In this article, we attempt at developing a scenario for the self-organization of goal-directed systems out of networks of (chemical) reactions. Related scenarios have been proposed to explain the origin of life starting from autocatalytic sets, but these sets tend to be too unstable and dependent on their environment to maintain. We apply instead a framework called Chemical Organization Theory (COT), which shows mathematically under which conditions reaction networks are able to form self-maintaining, autopoietic organizations. We introduce the concepts of perturbation, action, and goal based on an operationalization of the notion of change developed within COT. Next, we incorporate the latter with notions native to the theory of cybernetics aimed to explain goal directedness: reference levels and negative feedback among others. To test and refine these theoretical results, we present some examples that illustrate our approach. We finally discuss how this could result in a realistic, step-by-step scenario for the evolution of goal directedness, thus providing a theoretical solution to the age-old question of the origins of purpose.
In cybernetics, the basic assumption is that systems aim for control.But what and how are they controlling? I dierentiate two categories ofcontrol: internal and external control. In external control, one starts fromoutside, and tries to determine the environment completely. While withinternal control, one's own aspirations are taken as a starting point, anduseful synergies with the environment are sought. I'll dene these con-cepts in cybernetic terms, and argue why they are not necessary related.There are two aspects in this dierence. The rst lies in the locality: isthere an aim for global control, or only for control in the immediate envi-ronment? There is also a dierence in what one tries to change. An agentcould adapt its links, or try to change either the methods or the goals ofits neighbors.Several of these cases will be further explored by giving an existing modelthat falls under this circumstances. All of these models will be put intoan overarching framework. The model of controllability is a model aboutglobal control, while the others model local control, based on neural net-works or perceptual control theory.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.