Rethinking life and matter—a bold view of how the environment shapes biology. This classic work argues that the properties of matter and the course of cosmic evolution are tightly linked to living beings and their actions. It presents a biocentric view of the universe, where life and environment are inseparable, and where scientific inquiry can illuminate how nature’s design supports life without relying on traditional teleology. Through accessible discussion of chemistry, physiology, and ecology, the book examines how carbonic acid, bicarbonates, and other bodily regulators keep living systems in balance. It explores how the environment’s constants help protoplasm, blood, and tissues maintain a steady state, and why this matter-life link matters for biology today. Discover how the environment and the evolution of matter are seen as one process. Learn how chemical equilibria relate to health, growth, and the stability of living systems. Explore the argument for a biocentric perspective on the cosmos. See why the concept of fitness extends beyond organisms to the whole environment. Ideal for readers curious about the connection between chemistry, biology, and the broader universe, and for anyone seeking a foundational view of life’s place in nature.