Associate Professor of Philosophy Sebastjan Vörös discusses the work of Francisco Varela, delving into topics such as embodied cognition, neuro phenomenology, and the concept of Unevelt. They also explore Varela's personal experiences with liver transplant and recommend starting points for understanding his work.
Varela emphasized the dynamic, processual nature of life and the constant interaction between organisms and their environment.
Varela challenged Cartesian dualism and advocated for a dynamic, relational perspective on consciousness and lived experience.
Varela invites us to question traditional notions of selfhood and explore the dynamic processes at play in our lived experiences.
Deep dives
Francisco Varela: A Holistic Philosopher and Biologist
Francisco Varela was a Chilean philosopher, biologist, and polymath, known for his holistic thinking and interdisciplinary approach. His work is difficult to summarize due to its eclectic nature and the many different traditions and authors he drew from. Varela's main focus was on understanding the relationship between mind and life, and he explored this through concepts like autonomy, circularity, and self-constitution. He developed the theory of autopoiesis, which describes living systems as self-producing and self-maintaining entities. Varela also delved into the field of neurophenomenology, combining rigorous scientific research with a systematic exploration of lived experience. Throughout his work, Varela emphasized the importance of recognizing the dynamic, processual nature of life and the constant interaction between organisms and their environment.
The Role of Embodiment and Action in Varela's Work
Varela's work prominently highlights the significance of embodiment and action in shaping our understanding of consciousness and mind. He asserts that beings, both biological and cognitive, are not static entities, but rather interconnected systems that constantly co-constitute themselves with their environment. Varela introduces the concept of inaction, where organisms respond to stimuli in a non-neutral way to maintain their internal coherence. This self-maintenance and ongoing dialectic between the organism and its surroundings result in the emergence of a protopolitical domain, termed Umbelt, that shapes their perceived reality. Varela's ideas on embodied cognition and inaction challenge traditional Cartesian dualism and advocate for a dynamic, relational perspective on consciousness and lived experience.
The Notion of Self and Intimate Distances in Varela's Work
Varela's exploration of the self revolves around the understanding that selves are emergent units constantly intertwined with ongoing dynamics. These selves are not substantial entities, but virtual constructions arising from the interplay of dialectics like identity and circularity. Specifically, Varela emphasizes the fusion of the intimate and the otherness within the self. Drawing from personal experiences, including a liver transplant, he reflects on the dual aspectivity of our corporeality. Varela suggests that as complex organisms, we consist of meshworks of selfless selves, constantly co-determined by reciprocal interactions between bodily, cognitive, and cultural systems. His work invites us to question traditional notions of selfhood and explore the dynamic processes at play in our lived experiences.
Key Texts and Starting Points for Exploring Varela's Ideas
To delve deeper into Francisco Varela's work, two key texts are recommended: 'The Tree of Knowledge' (co-authored with Umberto Maturana) and 'The Embodied Mind' (co-authored with Evan Thompson and Eleanor Rosch). These books offer accessible introductions to Varela's ideas on autopoiesis, embodied cognition, and the role of cognition and consciousness in complex systems. Additionally, insightful articles such as 'Neurophenomenology', 'Intimate Distances', and 'Not One or Two' provide further perspectives on Varela's philosophical concepts. Exploring Varela's personal experiences, such as his writings on the Chilean Civil War and his liver transplant in 'Intimate Distances', can also deepen one's understanding of his ideas on selfhood and phenomenology. Reading these texts will provide a solid foundation for further exploring Varela's rich and eclectic body of work.
Sebastian Vodush's Work on Varela and Future Projects
Sebastian Vodush is currently working on a book dedicated to Francisco Varela, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis of his philosophical contributions. He is also involved in other projects addressing the phenomenon of life, exploring vitality, solvitality, and mentality. Sebastian's research focuses on the dynamic nature of life, the interplay between mind and body, and the implications of Varela's ideas in understanding complex systems. Stay tuned for the release of his book and future projects that delve into the profound concepts introduced by Francisco Varela.
Sebastjan Vörös is Associate Professor of Philosophy at the Faculty of Arts, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia. His research interests encompass philosophy of science, epistemology, phenomenology, and philosophy of religion. He is the author of Podobe neupodobljivega (The Images of the Unimaginable; KUD Logos & University of Ljubljana Press 2013, 2015), in which he investigates the phenomenon of mystical experiences from neuroscientific, phenomenological, and gnoseological perspectives.
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