From Second‐order Cybernetics to Enactive Cognitive Science: Varela's Turn From Epistemology to Phenomenology
Systems Research and Behavioral Science October 24, 2011 DOI: 10.1002/sres.1116 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Citations | 48 |
| Key points | Argues that Varela's turn from epistemology to phenomenology was a natural progression building on ideas already implicit in second-order cybernetics and the biology of cognition. Suggests that rigorous study of conscious experience may help refine theories and systemic concepts of life, mind, and sociality. |
Abstract
Varela is well known in the systems sciences for his work on second‐order cybernetics, biology of cognition and especially autopoietic theory. His concern during this period was to find an appropriate epistemological foundation for the self‐reference inherent in life and mind. In his later years, Varela began to develop the so‐called ‘enactive’ approach to cognitive science, which sets itself apart from other sciences by promoting a careful consideration of concrete experiential insights. His final efforts were thus dedicated to finding a pragmatic phenomenological foundation for life and mind. It is argued that Varela's experiential turn—from epistemology to phenomenology—can be seen as a natural progression that builds on many ideas that were already implicit in second‐order cybernetics and biology of cognition. It is also suggested that the rigorous study of conscious experience may enable us to refine our theories and systemic concepts of life, mind and sociality. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Comparable studies
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| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Psychosis as a state of aberrant salience: a framework linking biology, phenomenology, and pharmacology in schizophrenia. | 2003 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| From dopamine to salience to psychosis--linking biology, pharmacology and phenomenology of psychosis. | 2005 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| How do the brain's time and space mediate consciousness and its different dimensions? Temporo-spatial theory of consciousness (TTC). | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| The phenomenology of deep brain stimulation-induced changes in OCD: an enactive affordance-based model. | 2013 | Theoretical or philosophical paper | |
| Looking for the Self: Phenomenology, Neurophysiology and Philosophical Significance of Drug-induced Ego Dissolution | 2017 | Theoretical or philosophical paper |
Citations in the library
Cited by 6
- From enactive phenomenology to biosemiotic enactivism Adaptive Behavior April 1, 2016
- The enactive naturalization of normativity: from self-maintenance to situated interactions. History & Philosophy of the Life Sciences December 2, 2021
- Towards a view from within: The contribution of Francisco Varela to the study of consciousness PsyArXiv April 23, 2021
- The roots and blossoms of 4E cognition in Chile: Introduction to the Special Issue on 4E cognition in Chile Adaptive Behavior October 1, 2023
- The Biological Foundations of Enactivism: A Report on a Workshop Held at Artificial Life XV. Artificial Life 2018
and 1 more in the library
Cites 7
- The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding Complicity An International Journal of Complexity and Education July 1, 2007
- The enactive approach Pragmatics & Cognition July 26, 2011
- From autopoiesis to neurophenomenology: Francisco Varela's exploration of the biophysics of being. Biological research 2003
- Describing one’s subjective experience in the second person: An interview method for the science of consciousness November 29, 2006
- Subjectivity and Selfhood December 9, 2005
and 2 more in the library