Biological autonomy: the self-creation of constraints

摘要

Biological systems cannot predict all states that will appear in the future in a complex environment that changes with indefinite uncertainty. Creation of relevant information is therefore needed from time to time for self-control and cognitive activity. Since it is impossible for a biological system to know all the events in the future, what is needed is to create relevant information in real time depending on the environmental state. By what principles is this attained given the limited capacity of biological systems? The purpose of the present paper is to theoretically discuss these principles. It is shown that the best approach to this problem is to start from the network dynamics of a “relative or relational system” composed of a specific type of active elements, tentatively named “actors.” The property of an actor is indefinite in isolated states but becomes definite or emerges in the relative system, depending on its relations with the other actors. The properties of the system are originated concomitantly from its indefinite state. The network dynamics of such a relative system are discussed with reference to the oriental ontologies, which developed theories of self-creation based on relativism. Dynamical coherence is required in the following sense that the microscopic dynamics of actors in the created states are consistent not only among the actors but also with the microscopic dynamics of the system as a whole. In addition, the macroscopic dynamics is required to be consistent with the environmental state. These conditions give rise to constraints that specify the self-creation but are not sufficient enough for complete specification interdependent differentiation of the created states. Another important concept is the “Place”, which provides the “measure of relevancy.” To satisfy all these conditions, synchronic self-creation starting from an indefinite state of the network is necessary. Environmental information is introduced to the systems before the start of the synchronic self-creation as initial conditions. To adapt to the environment, the biological system cannot stay in the self-created and definite state, but it has to remove from it to an indefinite state to prepare for self-creation in the successive time. Thus, the biological system is constantly in self-creation-destruction cycles between indefinite and definite states. For destruction, it is sufficient to remove constraints produced in the Place, which makes the states of the actors indefinite.