GROWTH (Principle of autocatalytic)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1490 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
- “Stable configurations that facilitate the appearance of configurations similar to themselves will become more numerous” (F. HEYLIGHEN, 1992, p.4).
HEYLIGHEN readily admits that this principle is self-evident. However, he adds that it “… describes as well biological reproduction as the positive feedback of nonlinearity characterizing most inorganic processes of self-organization, such as crystal growth. The principle simply states that it suffices for a configuration to be stable, and in some respect autocatalytic or self-replicating in order to undergo a potentially explosive growth” (Ibid).
In any case, autocatalytic growth is possible only if the following conditions are fulfilled:
- The substrate or environment must be able to supply the needed material and/or energetic resources for growth;
- A template for self-replication must be present.
Besides, growth remains unchecked only as long as the environment does not become overexploited or supersaturated.