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. |
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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 actions activity actual apparent arise autopoiesis autopoietic machine autopoietic organization autopoietic system autopoietic unities basic becomes behavior biological cause cell characterize circularity classes closed cognitive domain components concrete conduct consequence considered constant constitute context continuous coupling defined deformations depends describe determined distinction domain of interactions effector elements embodied enter entities environment establishment evolution existence experience explain fact follows function given hence historical human identity implies independent individual integrate internal kind language learning linguistic living systems logic machine maintain maintenance manner mechanism mode nature necessarily necessary nervous system neurons notion observer occurs ontogeny operation orienting origin participation particular phenomena phenomenology phenomenon physical space possible prediction present production properties question realized recursive reference relations remain representations represents reproduction requires respect result selection social society specified structure subordinated successful surfaces takes place tion transformation understanding unit unity universe valid