Abstract
There are many reasons for questioning the relevance of the concepts of self-organization (SO) and emergence. By studying three types of SO, respectively related to ontogeny, phylogeny and formalized models, we show that we always have to suppose an associated hetero-organization and preconceived immergence, unconsciously present in the authors mind. In order to understand how these unusual couples are working, they must be considered as ‘agonistic antagonistic’ couples. Heteroorganization and immergence put constraints on the system so that SO and emergence will produce new patterns and forms, depending on these constraints. Besides, such couples (SO and heteroorganization, emergence and immergence) seem to belong to a series of couples of the same type, allowing us to define a kind of ‘model of life’.
The concept of self-organization has been presented as the main concept defining systemics, and second order cybernetics. This concept has been accepted also in general Biological Theory (BT) where authors endowed the key to many phenomena until then poorly understood.
Nevertheless, we question the validity of this concept, or more precisely point out that the concept contains ‘non explicit’ elements which were neglected. We propose a frame in which this concept-and the associated concept of emergence-remains available, but can no longer claim to give an account for the features they are said to explain by themselves alone.
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Bernard-Weil, E. Self-organization and emergence are some irrelevant concepts without their association with the concepts of hetero-organization and immergence. Acta Biotheor 43, 351–362 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713558
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00713558