Autopoiesis

Summary

The biological account includes the production of a boundary that enables the processes producing it. Material turnover is compatible with the persistence of this organisation.

Implications for practice

A boundary drawn by an analyst and a boundary produced by a living system make different claims.

Key distinctions

• Self-production versus reproduction
• Organisation versus particular components
• Organisational closure versus material isolation

Connections to practice

• Before applying the term, identify components, production processes, and boundary formation.

Common confusions

• Any durable feedback loop is autopoietic.
• Calling an institution living establishes biological autopoiesis.

Further checks

• Social applications need an explicit account of what is being produced.

Recorded connections

Check the wording, direction, scope, sources, and status of a connection before relying on it.

• Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization, and a Model defines and models Autopoiesis

  Status: candidate · Relation: presents account of

  The paper defines autopoiesis through a network of component production and illustrates that organisation in a tessellation model. The illustration does not itself establish later biological or social applications.

  Locator: Section 3, p. 188; section 6, pp. 189–191

  • Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model (passage checked research pass)

• Autopoiesis grounds the biological sense of Autonomy

  Status: candidate · Relation: explains

  Varela, Maturana, and Uribe explain biological autonomy through the continued production of the organisation constituting the unity. This sense of autonomy differs from managerial discretion or political independence.

  Locator: Section 4, p. 188

  • Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model (passage checked research pass)

Claims and disputes

• The paper defines autopoiesis through a network of component production and illustrates that organisation in a tessellation model. The illustration does not itself establish later biological or social applications.

  Claim status: candidate. Review status: research pass needs editor.

  Primary-source exposition; editorial acceptance open

  Supporting sources

  • Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model (passage checked research pass)

• Varela, Maturana, and Uribe explain biological autonomy through the continued production of the organisation constituting the unity. This sense of autonomy differs from managerial discretion or political independence.

  Claim status: candidate. Review status: research pass needs editor.

  Primary-source exposition; editorial acceptance open

  Supporting sources

  • Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model (passage checked research pass)

Sources and passage locators

• Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model (passage checked research pass)
• The Organization of the Living: A Theory of the Living Organization (passage checked research pass)

• Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model: Section 3, p. 188; section 7, pp. 191–192; section 9, pp. 192–193 · research pass needs editor
• The Organization of the Living: A Theory of the Living Organization: 1999 reprint, 'Implicit requirements', p. 155 · research pass needs editor
• Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model: Section 3, p. 188; section 6, pp. 189–191 · research pass needs editor
• Autopoiesis: The Organization of Living Systems, Its Characterization and a Model: Section 4, p. 188 · research pass needs editor

Cite this entry

Taylor, B. P. (2026). Autopoiesis. The Necessary Tangle, release 0.35. https://transduction.systems/entries/concept_autopoiesis/

Include the release and review status when you quote or reuse this account.