Connectionists: practopoiesis

[Danko Nikolic]

Dear John,

   Yes, this is correct, practopoiesis is about physical and mental 
development. However, it is equally so about behavior and cognition. 
And, maybe surprisingly, it includes also evolution by natural 
selection. In fact, one of the most fundamental theoretical advantages 
behind practopoiesis is that the same organizational principles can be 
used to explain all of these different aspects of biological systems; 
and more importantly, the relationships between them.

  For example, when one consciously thinks and comes up with new 
decisions on what to do next, the process is principally not different 
from development of the nervous system and coming up with new anatomical 
structures. It is just that one process takes place faster than the 
other, and that one is at a higher level of organization than the other. 
Apart from that, the underlying cybernetic principles are the same.

Maturana and Varela would say something like: "Thinking is living, 
living is thinking".

Regards,

Danko



On 4/19/14 5:50 PM, Juyang Weng wrote:
> Dear Danko,
>
> I guess that practopoiesis is about physical and mental development 
> through a biological life.  Am I wrong?
>
> Best,
>
> -John
>


-- 
Prof. Dr. Danko Nikolić

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