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

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

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)

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

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

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

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.”

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…

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

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