>Autopoietic theorists would claim that self-replication is secondary to
>self-production, i.e. a re-cursion of self-production. This becomes more
>clear
>if we rephrase the term self-replication and call it self-re-production
>instead.
>From this perspective self-reproduction is a subset of the behaviors of a
>self-producing system. Autopoietic theorists have been rather hostile to
>self-reproduction. They argue that since it is secondary to self-production
>it
>can't be part of the definition of life. This is in my view too harsh and
>extreme. Self-reproduction represents a novel emergence and greatly adds to
>the
>richness of life. Life without self-reproduction would be dull to say the
>least.
>I think it is not unreasonable to say that self-production defines the
>organization of the LIVING, while self-reproduction defines the organization
>of
>LIFE if you see the difference.
>
>
>
>
In my opinion, reproductive capacity is not necessary to the basic definition
of living entities. Many living things don't reproduce (by choice or
happenstance). Reproduction supports the duration of a species, but does not
define individual entities.
Would you accept that living things are autopoietic (whether or not they
re-produce)? If so, then I understand your example of warm-blooded vs.
cold-blooded animals was an analogy to illustrate the difference between
internal and external control. Certainly both use internal metabolic
processes to support and reinforce their structure.
But apart from obviously living animals, how would you know an autopoietic
process if you saw it? Is decaying uranium autopoietic? What would
distinguish the toy (built to be 'autonomous') from the animal it resembles
(genetically re-produced to be 'autonomous')? ('Autonomous' necessarily used
loosely- all living entities depend on their environment and are structured
to interact with it).
I suggest that autopoiesis requires two interactive systems: 1. utilization
and retention of a self-image (a 'blueprint' of the self-as-intended), and
2. metabolism (energy conversion to resist entropic dissolution of the
self-image by converting low-entropy energy into work, structure,
information, and waste high-entropy energy).
In short, (yes, Jeff P.) self-replicating and self-producing are two
different issues.
Mike