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Goal Directedness, Chemical Organizations, and Cybernetic Mechanisms.
Evo Busseniers1, Tomas Veloz1,2,3, Francis Heylighen1
1Centre Leo Apostel for Interdisciplinary Studies, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium.
Entropy (Basel, Switzerland)
|August 27, 2021
Summary
This study presents a scenario for creating goal-directed systems from chemical reactions using Chemical Organization Theory (COT). It offers a theoretical solution for the origin of purpose and evolution of goal directedness.
Area of Science:
- Theoretical Chemistry
- Systems Biology
- Origin of Life Studies
Background:
- Existing models for life's origin often rely on unstable autocatalytic sets.
- A robust theoretical framework is needed to explain the emergence of self-maintaining systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a scenario for the self-organization of goal-directed systems from chemical reaction networks.
- To provide a theoretical solution to the origin of purpose and goal directedness.
Main Methods:
- Application of Chemical Organization Theory (COT) to analyze reaction networks.
- Introduction of concepts like perturbation, action, and goal within the COT framework.
- Integration of cybernetic principles such as reference levels and negative feedback.
Main Results:
- Chemical Organization Theory (COT) mathematically defines conditions for self-maintaining, autopoietic organizations.
- Demonstration of how chemical networks can exhibit goal-directed behavior through defined concepts and cybernetic principles.
- Illustrative examples validating the theoretical approach.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a realistic, step-by-step scenario for the evolution of goal directedness.
- Offers a theoretical framework for understanding the emergence of purpose from non-living matter.
- Highlights the potential of COT in explaining complex system organization.
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