Autopoiesis
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*The theoretical construct definitive of the manner of operation of that class of systems that includes living systems. This term, combined from the Greek auto- (self) and poiesis (creation/production), was coined by Maturana in (approximately) 1972 (Cf. Maturana's comments in Maturana & Varela, 1980, p. xvii). Often loosely translated as 'self-creation' or 'self-production', the term connotes the process or dynamic by which an autopoietic machine / system maintains its autopoietic organization (via intrinsic processes of production of components realizing this particular organization). More specifically, autopoiesis is attributed to a machine (delineated as a a network of processes) which through that network of processes produces the components that: | *The theoretical construct definitive of the manner of operation of that class of systems that includes living systems. This term, combined from the Greek auto- (self) and poiesis (creation/production), was coined by Maturana in (approximately) 1972 (Cf. Maturana's comments in Maturana & Varela, 1980, p. xvii). Often loosely translated as 'self-creation' or 'self-production', the term connotes the process or dynamic by which an autopoietic machine / system maintains its autopoietic organization (via intrinsic processes of production of components realizing this particular organization). More specifically, autopoiesis is attributed to a machine (delineated as a a network of processes) which through that network of processes produces the components that: | ||
**"(1) through their interactions and transformations continuously regenerate and realize the network of processes (relations) that produced them; and | **"(1) through their interactions and transformations continuously regenerate and realize the network of processes (relations) that produced them; and | ||
| - | **(2) constitute it (the machine) as a concrete unity in the space in which they [the components] exist by specifying the topological domain of its realization as such a network." | + | **(2) constitute it (the machine) as a concrete unity in the space in which they [the components] exist by specifying the topological domain of its realization as such a network." (Varela, 1979, p. 13) |
| - | + | ... The difference between autonomy and autopoiesis is that autopoietic systems must produce their own components in addition to conserving their organization . Autonomous machines need only exhibit organizational closure, and they are not required to produce their own components as part of their operation. | |
| - | (Varela, 1979, p. 13) | + | |
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| - | ... | + | |
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Revision as of 14:20, 1 August 2006
Definitions
- The theoretical construct definitive of the manner of operation of that class of systems that includes living systems. This term, combined from the Greek auto- (self) and poiesis (creation/production), was coined by Maturana in (approximately) 1972 (Cf. Maturana's comments in Maturana & Varela, 1980, p. xvii). Often loosely translated as 'self-creation' or 'self-production', the term connotes the process or dynamic by which an autopoietic machine / system maintains its autopoietic organization (via intrinsic processes of production of components realizing this particular organization). More specifically, autopoiesis is attributed to a machine (delineated as a a network of processes) which through that network of processes produces the components that:
- "(1) through their interactions and transformations continuously regenerate and realize the network of processes (relations) that produced them; and
- (2) constitute it (the machine) as a concrete unity in the space in which they [the components] exist by specifying the topological domain of its realization as such a network." (Varela, 1979, p. 13)
... The difference between autonomy and autopoiesis is that autopoietic systems must produce their own components in addition to conserving their organization . Autonomous machines need only exhibit organizational closure, and they are not required to produce their own components as part of their operation.
[Source: Encyclopaedia Autopoietica]
Literature
- Maturana, H.; Varela, F.: Autopoiesis and Cognition: the Realization of the Living. Dordrecht: D. Reidel, 1980 (1st ed. 1973).
- Varela, F.: Principles of Biological Autonomy. New York: Elsevier, 1979.
