I have recently posted an HTML version of a paper that I originally
published in 1991 following an AGU Chapman Conference on the Gaia hypothesis
("Gaia: Hypothesis or worldview?"). In the new version I have re-labeled
several of the central ideas to convey broader application and suggest some
approaches that may lend themselves to testing cybernetically. In searching
for a term to refer to my central theme, I settled on the term
"autevolution," which I suggest should mean "evolution of the self," and
"the role of the self in evolution." I could not find any prior use of this
term, and so hope it may uniquely be applied to this definition and perhaps
the concepts presented (with all the dangers implied by giving a simple way
to reference or dismiss one's ideas). The ideas in this paper were intended
to be philosophical, but I finally came to believe (perhaps readers will
correct me) that there is at least the metaphysical basis for theory, and
that is what encouraged me to give it a name. There seems to be good overlap
with the ideas being discussed on PCP, and perhaps there could be something
extracted from this for an additional node. Over the next several months I
plan to look into the relationship between autevolution as proposed in my
paper and MST as described on the PCP.
I wrote an extensive foreword to this edition that expands on some of the
implications of a possible theory of autevolution and attempts to reference
some recent developments that seem supportive. I would very much appreciate
feedback and peer-review of this publication and am seeking a better means
of peer-review publication (perhaps through PCP?).
For now, the document is accessible at the following URL:
http://www.cybercity.hko.net/Denver/bmi/autevol.htm
The server is located in Hong Kong and seems to be rather slow to access
from the US. I'm not sure if it is also slow from Europe. I am working on
another server site in the USA. Please contact me if you have persistent
problems accessing the site. I can break the longer files (e.g., the
foreword) into smaller files if that will improve access.
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John J. Kineman, Physical Scientist/Ecologist
National Geophysical Data Center
325 Broadway E/GC1 (3100 Marine St. Rm: A-152)
Boulder, Colorado 80303 USA
(303) 497-6900 (phone)
(303) 497-6513 (fax)
jjk@ngdc.noaa.gov (email)
(303) 497-6513 (fax)
"The most interesting information comes from children, for they tell all
they know and then stop." -- Mark Twain