Love & Philosophy #67: Autonomy, Autopoiesis & the Enactive Approach with philosopher Ezequiel Di Paolo
Aug 2, 2025
Ezequiel Di Paolo, a leading figure in the enactive approach to cognitive science, joins guest host Mirko Prokop, a philosophy PhD student, for a fascinating discussion. They explore how autonomy and autopoiesis shape our understanding of cognition, emphasizing the interactive relationship between organisms and their environments. The conversation highlights the significance of community in individuality, the complexities of authenticity, and the role of love in navigating interpersonal dynamics. Their insights invite listeners to rethink the meaning of human connection.
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Autonomy and Organizational Closure
- Autonomy generalizes autopoiesis as self-production and self-distinction of living systems.
- Organizational closure means processes produce and regenerate the system’s identity circularly.
Enaction Brings Forth the World
- Enaction means organisms co-create and transform their world through adaptive action.
- Cognition isn’t world reconstruction but tuning body and environment dynamics for survival.
Dialectic of Becoming and Adaptivity
- Becoming is a dialectic tension of self-production and self-distinction with environment.
- Adaptivity resolves this tension by conserving identity while embracing change.
