Autopoiesis Theory Andrea Wiggins CSCS 501

Autopoietic Systems Definition of living systems from Maturana & Varela Autopoietic systems are constantly self-producing Autonomous & self-referential Must produce own boundary within which it generates its own components through structural and organizational coupling

Definition of living systems from Maturana & Varela

Autopoietic systems are constantly self-producing

Autonomous & self-referential

Must produce own boundary within which it generates its own components through structural and organizational coupling

Structural Coupling Autopoietic systems are structurally defined, organizationally identified System’s structure determines its organization & effects of perturbation on organization Inextricably coupled to environment, structure reacts to environment through compensation or adaptation

Autopoietic systems are structurally defined, organizationally identified

System’s structure determines its organization & effects of perturbation on organization

Inextricably coupled to environment, structure reacts to environment through compensation or adaptation

Organizational Closure Organizational closure does not imply independence from environment or other systems But all activity must maintain autopoiesis or else the system will disintegrate: All processes are processes of self-production; the system's activity closes in on itself. (Mingers)

Organizational closure does not imply independence from environment or other systems

But all activity must maintain autopoiesis or else the system will disintegrate:

All processes are processes of self-production; the system's activity closes in on itself. (Mingers)

Boundaries Necessary for organizational closure, separating ‘in’ from ‘out’ Necessary for autonomy, defines system as separate from other systems Must be a product of self-production, generated & maintained by the system Restatements from Maturana & Varela: semi-permeability

Necessary for organizational closure, separating ‘in’ from ‘out’

Necessary for autonomy, defines system as separate from other systems

Must be a product of self-production, generated & maintained by the system

Restatements from Maturana & Varela: semi-permeability

Boundary Conditions Not quite the same thing as a physical boundary, but consider skin, with its topologically exterior digestive tract… This interpretation allows the boundary to function as a regulatory mechanism in structurally-coupled interactions ‘ Fuzzy’ boundaries are more broadly applicable and better resemble cellular boundaries

Not quite the same thing as a physical boundary, but consider skin, with its topologically exterior digestive tract…

This interpretation allows the boundary to function as a regulatory mechanism in structurally-coupled interactions

‘ Fuzzy’ boundaries are more broadly applicable and better resemble cellular boundaries

Higher-Order Systems Like Holland’s multiagent aggregates, but more strictly defined Initially, 1st-order AS comprised of 1st-order AS: 2nd-order AS M & V recant (together): metacellulars are aggregates of 1st-orders “ are second-order autopoietic systems also first-order autopoietic systems?” Organization seems key

Like Holland’s multiagent aggregates, but more strictly defined

Initially, 1st-order AS comprised of 1st-order AS: 2nd-order AS

M & V recant (together): metacellulars are aggregates of 1st-orders

“ are second-order autopoietic systems also first-order autopoietic systems?”

Organization seems key

Autopoiesis Applied Besides biology: Neural systems: more of a special case Cognition, including Game of Life Social Autopoiesis Theory (Luhmann) Configuration/Steering Theory Public administration, policy science Law, family therapy Literary ‘Autopoetics’ “ You know you have found an autopoetic system when you find together more autonomy and more dependence, more closure and more openness.”

Besides biology:

Neural systems: more of a special case

Cognition, including Game of Life

Social Autopoiesis Theory (Luhmann)

Configuration/Steering Theory

Public administration, policy science

Law, family therapy

Literary ‘Autopoetics’

“ You know you have found an autopoetic system when you find together more autonomy and more dependence, more closure and more openness.”

Metacellulars Emergence of metacellulars/higher-order AS is underexplained Enaction as coemergence of AS with structural couplings to environment Idea is problematic in view of the role of structural couplings in adaptation No real discussion of how this happens…

Emergence of metacellulars/higher-order AS is underexplained

Enaction as coemergence of AS with structural couplings to environment

Idea is problematic in view of the role of structural couplings in adaptation

No real discussion of how this happens…

Higher-Order Emergence If a 2nd-order AS is a 1st-order AS composed of 1st-order AS’s, then… Autopoietic systems develop components that are autopoietic, or Multiple interacting autopoietic systems become an autopoietic system (or…?) Why else would this happen except as adaptation, which only happens in reaction to environmental perturbation? Chicken-or-egg conundrum

If a 2nd-order AS is a 1st-order AS composed of 1st-order AS’s, then…

Autopoietic systems develop components that are autopoietic, or

Multiple interacting autopoietic systems become an autopoietic system (or…?)

Why else would this happen except as adaptation, which only happens in reaction to environmental perturbation?

Chicken-or-egg conundrum

Conclusions Subtlety of conceptual underpinnings Definitions are not settled Problematic in application to other theoretical areas Adopting boundary conditions concept helps, as does loosened definitions Coemergence is a convenient explanation that requires more scrutiny

Subtlety of conceptual underpinnings

Definitions are not settled

Problematic in application to other theoretical areas

Adopting boundary conditions concept helps, as does loosened definitions

Coemergence is a convenient explanation that requires more scrutiny