Biomimicry is a term used to describe when human-made objects are designed to copy aspects of nature, with the thought that years of evolution has already led to efficient designs.

One prime example is the humpback whale’s fins having little bumps called tubercles that help its maneuverability, which is incorporated into things such as aircrafts and wind turbines.

Symbiomimicry is to then continue to take lessons from nature, but instead of focusing on efficient design, will focus on how organisms are able to be in mutually beneficial relationships with one another.

What is Sumbiocracy?

What is Sumbiophilia?

Sumbiocracy is Albrecht’s proposed system of government that like democracy, “we elect people to govern who understand and affirm life-supporting organic forms, processes, and relationships, and we must give that governing body the authority to carefully deliberate on various creative proposals from humans.” Essentially, sumbiocracy is a system where politicians (Sumbiocrats) must have a key understanding of ecology and the connection of all living beings, who will then decide on various policies such as the banning of processes that would have a long-term toxic impact on life (i.e. asbestos in buildings).

From philia, the Greek word for love, sumbiophilia denotes the love of living together. Albrecht suggests that the term biophilia has limitations in that it could be interpreted simply as a love of life without being concerned for its ecological place, and has coined the term sumbiophilia to emphasis the connections of organisms.

In other words, a biophile may be perfectly content in a zoo where organisms are kept in captivity since they’re all still alive, while a sumbiophile would view zoos as horrid places where organisms are removed from their ecological connections with their natural habitat.