Autopoiesis of Thought
Prospects of application of the nonlinear dynamical approach to the understanding of consciousness and its cognitive functions are under discussion in the article. A whole number of notions of nonlinear dynamics are involved in the epistemological analysis, such as the fast hyperbolic, avalanche-like growth, multitude of alternative paths of development, change of a tempo of development, cycles of activity, thresholds of excitement, heightened sensibility in states of instability or an ability for growth of small disturbances into macrostructures, cascades of bifurcations, phase transitions, poising at the edge of chaos. It is shown that consciousness is emergent, holistic, embodied, situated, and enactive by its nature. The model of autopoiesis, i.e. of self-production and structural coupling of cognitive agent and of a medium of its activity, turns to be relevant for the understanding machinery of cognitive and creative work
Keywords: non-linear-dynamic approach, non-classical epistemology, non-linear dynamics, cognitive functions of consciousness, characteristics of consciousness, mechanisms of cognition and creation, model of autopoezis.
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Issue: 1, 2008
Rubric: Postnonclassical Methodology of System Studies
Pages: 46 — 55
Downloads: 1223