Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the LivingThis is a bold, brilliant, provocative and puzzling work. It demands a radical shift in standpoint, an almost paradoxical posture in which living systems are described in terms of what lies outside the domain of descriptions. Professor Humberto Maturana, with his colleague Francisco Varela, have undertaken the construction of a systematic theoretical biology which attempts to define living systems not as they are objects of observation and description, nor even as in teracting systems, but as self-contained unities whose only reference is to them selves. Thus, the standpoint of description of such unities from the 'outside', i. e. , by an observer, already seems to violate the fundamental requirement which Maturana and Varela posit for the characterization of such system- namely, that they are autonomous, self-referring and self-constructing closed systems - in short, autopoietic systems in their terms. Yet, on the basis of such a conceptual method, and such a theory of living systems, Maturana goes on to define cognition as a biological phenomenon; as, in effect, the very nature of all living systems. And on this basis, to generate the very domains of interac tion among such systems which constitute language, description and thinking. |
Contents
Cognitive Function in General | 8 |
Cognitive Function in Particular | 15 |
Problems in the Neurophysiology of Cognition | 41 |
Conclusions | 48 |
Post Scriptum | 57 |
Preface by Sir Stafford Beer | 63 |
Introduction | 73 |
Embodiments of Autopoiesis | 88 |
Diversity of Autopoiesis | 96 |
Presence of Autopoiesis | 112 |
The Nervous System | 124 |
Glossary | 135 |
Other editions - View all
Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living H.R. Maturana,F.J. Varela Limited preview - 2012 |
Autopoiesis and Cognition: The Realization of the Living H.R. Maturana,F. J. Varela No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Accordingly afferent influences allopoietic ambience anatomical apparent arise autopoietic machine autopoietic organization autopoietic space autopoietic system autopoietic unities basic circularity biological phenomenology biological phenomenon characterize circular organization classes cognitive domain collector area composite unity concatenation concrete conduct coupling deformations describe determined domain of descriptions domain of discourse domain of interactions effector areas effector surfaces elements embodied environment evolution explain Francisco Varela given hence historical network homeostatic identity implies independent entities individual internal linguistic domain linguistic interactions living organization living systems maintain constant maintenance manner mode necessarily nerve cells nervous system neuronal activity neuronal network neuropils niche notion observer ontogeny operation organization of living orienting behavior orienting interactions participation particular perturbations phenomena phenomenological domain physical autopoietic physical space poietic possible properties receptor surfaces recursive reference relations of production relations of specification relative activity representations result self-referring self-reproduction specified structure subordinated takes place teleonomy tion transfer functions transformation unit of interactions valid