Autopoiesis, Adaptivity, Teleology, Agency

Author: Paolo, Ezequiel

Source: Phenomenology and the Cognitive Sciences, Volume 4, Number 4, December 2005 , pp. 429-452(24)

Publisher: Springer

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Abstract:

A proposal for the biological grounding of intrinsic teleology and sense-making through the theory of autopoiesis is critically evaluated. Autopoiesis provides a systemic language for speaking about intrinsic teleology but its original formulation needs to be elaborated further in order to explain sense-making. This is done by introducing adaptivity, a many-layered property that allows organisms to regulate themselves with respect to their conditions of viability. Adaptivity leads to more articulated concepts of behaviour, agency, sense-construction, health, and temporality than those given so far by autopoiesis and enaction. These and other implications for understanding the organismic generation of values are explored.

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11097-005-9002-y

Affiliations: 1: Email: ezequiel@sussex.ac.uk

Publication date: 2005-12-01