Intentionality in non-equilibrium systems? The functional aspects of self-organized pattern formation

@article{citeulike:1726013, abstract = {Psychology is frequently confronted with mind-body issues--is there a way by which mentalist and physical approaches to cognition can be integrated? Can the intentional attributes of mind be understood in scientific terms? The authors propose that synergetics, the theory of non-linear complex systems, offers steps towards a possible solution to this conundrum. In particular, we maintain that an essential property of self-organized pattern formation lies within its functionality, this being the ability to optimize, respond and adapt `meaningfully' to environmental constraints. Patterns become functional because they consume in a most efficient manner the gradients which cause their evolution, thereby making synergetic pattern formation appear `intentional'. We therefore posit that self-organization phenomena may afford basic explanations for the adaptive, intentional and purposive behavior of many complex systems, in particular of cognitive systems. This present approach elaborates on the second law of thermodynamics.}, author = {Tschacher, Wolfgang and Haken, Hermann }, citeulike-article-id = {1726013}, doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2006.09.002}, journal = {New Ideas in Psychology}, keywords = {affordance, formation, gestalt, intentionality, pattern, self-organization, valence}, month = {April}, number = {1}, pages = {1--15}, posted-at = {2007-10-04 07:32:55}, priority = {0}, title = {Intentionality in non-equilibrium systems? The functional aspects of self-organized pattern formation}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2006.09.002}, volume = {25}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1726013 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1726013 TI - Intentionality in non-equilibrium systems? The functional aspects of self-organized pattern formation JF - New Ideas in Psychology VL - 25 IS - 1 SP - 1 EP - 15 N2 - Psychology is frequently confronted with mind-body issues--is there a way by which mentalist and physical approaches to cognition can be integrated? Can the intentional attributes of mind be understood in scientific terms? The authors propose that synergetics, the theory of non-linear complex systems, offers steps towards a possible solution to this conundrum. In particular, we maintain that an essential property of self-organized pattern formation lies within its functionality, this being the ability to optimize, respond and adapt `meaningfully' to environmental constraints. Patterns become functional because they consume in a most efficient manner the gradients which cause their evolution, thereby making synergetic pattern formation appear `intentional'. We therefore posit that self-organization phenomena may afford basic explanations for the adaptive, intentional and purposive behavior of many complex systems, in particular of cognitive systems. This present approach elaborates on the second law of thermodynamics. KW - affordance KW - formation KW - gestalt KW - intentionality KW - pattern KW - self-organization KW - valence AU - Tschacher, Wolfgang AU - Haken, Hermann PY - 2007/04// UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.newideapsych.2006.09.002 ER -