AUTOPOIESIS Meaning and
Definition
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Autopoiesis is a concept derived from Greek words, "auto" meaning self and "poiesis" meaning creation or production. Coined by the Chilean biologists Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela in 1972, autopoiesis refers to the self-creation and self-maintenance processes exhibited by living organisms.
In the context of biology and systems theory, autopoiesis describes the fundamental characteristics of living systems to reproduce and maintain their organization through constant self-regeneration and self-reference. Living systems, such as cells, organisms, or ecosystems, are seen as inherently self-contained and distinguishable from their environment through their boundaries or borders. They are dynamic systems that are constantly engaged in self-production, ensuring their own continued existence.
The key principles of autopoiesis include the idea that living systems are operationally closed, maintaining their organization through internal processes while interacting with their environment in a selective manner. They constantly exchange energy, matter, and information with their surroundings, but the internal dynamics maintain their structure and integrity.
Autopoiesis has been extended beyond biology to fields such as cognitive science, sociology, and philosophy. In these disciplines, the concept of autopoiesis has been utilized to understand self-organizing and self-referential systems, such as the human mind or social systems. It emphasizes the recursive nature of systems and their ability to generate and maintain their own organization. Autopoiesis acts as a foundational principle for understanding the complex dynamics of living and non-living systems and their capacity for self-governance.
Common Misspellings for AUTOPOIESIS
- zutopoiesis
- sutopoiesis
- wutopoiesis
- qutopoiesis
- aytopoiesis
- ahtopoiesis
- ajtopoiesis
- aitopoiesis
- a8topoiesis
- a7topoiesis
- auropoiesis
- aufopoiesis
- augopoiesis
- auyopoiesis
- au6opoiesis
- au5opoiesis
- autipoiesis
- autkpoiesis
- autlpoiesis
- autppoiesis
Etymology of AUTOPOIESIS
The word autopoiesis was coined by the Chilean biologists Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela in 1972. It is derived from the Greek words auto meaning self and poiesis meaning creation or production. Therefore, autopoiesis can be interpreted as self-creation or self-production.
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