ELEMENT and the AUTOPOIETIC SYSTEM (The)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1048 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Human sciences, Methodology or model |
F. ROBB writes: “The relationship between the individual and the institution is asymmetric. The autopoietic organization does not depend on any particular individuals, but is does use and constrain individuals to serve its own ends. Indeed, it must turn over individuals in order to preserve itself. Such organization uses human lifetime and stored skills, experience and knowledge, simply as a resource to maintain its autopoiesis” (1990, p.396).
This asymmetric interrelation is also present in living systems in general. It suffices to replace the word “individual” by “element” or “component”, and “institution” and “organization” by “system”.
However, while elements are submitted to systemic closure in physical systems, they also remain transient in these entities.
This seems similarly to be the case in artificial systems, as for example in a plane, or a computer (“spare parts”).