Autopoiesis is a
term from biological science that has extraordinary implications
for world thought. Literally it means
self-producing, scientifically it is a brilliant
abstraction of the fundamental life-process that sustains us,
philosophically it underpins the holistic way of
thinking without which we may not survive.
Like me, you may wish to understand autopoiesis
in a strictly scientific manner, yet also want to
explore the more poetic applications that flow
from this powerful trigger. Instead of a science
used predominantly for manipulation and control
this is a science of wholeness that respects
humanness and the vast unknown.
Leaders of thought whose contributions draw inspiration from Maturana's term, autopoiesis,
include Fritjof Capra, Elizabet Sahtouris, Gregory Bateson,
Terry Winograd, Heinz von Foerster, Ernst von
Glasersfeld, Pille Bunnell, Gordon Pask,
Stafford Beer and Francisco
Varela (co-creator of the autopoiesis concept).
My mates and I run courses and workshops and generally have fun, learning this stuff. This web
site is devoted to the beauty, the satisfaction and the hope for humankind
that we find in these new scientific explanations.
My Current Work
I apply this today by writing papers and songs, running
workshops and courses, and I intend to update this
website completely by March 2010.
My U3A Mind-Body Science
course finished up at the end of 2009. Notes from
that course should be available in book form here
later in 2010. I want to thank those U3A members
who have participated so wholeheartedly and been
so helpful to my learning as well. I hope to
provide some notes for my new 2010 course, The
Science of Feelings and Emotions, when the new
website is online.
I also belong to the Scientific and
Medical Network, an international forum
for discussing human experience beyond the materialist world view.
Status
This
site was created on March 28 1997 and last
updated on February 1, 2010.
Disclaimer
- Invitation
It is inherent in the autopoietic ideal that we make no
claims whatsoever about the truth of anything we say so far as another
person is concerned. It's not necessary or expected that you believe
what we say or do anything because of what we say. Our invitation is just
to dance together for a while.
We cordially invite you to join in our conversation. We accept responsibility for producing our words and images and knowing that
they may indeed be triggers of some sort, but what they trigger is all
yours, mate! Feel free to use anything you find on here in any way you
like; that is your responsibility.
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