Autopoiesis (vs. Allopoiesis)
From Geography
In this wiki we want to make clear the difference between the two concepts Autopoiesis and 'allopoiesis'. Autopoiesis literally means auto (self)-creation. The term autopoiesis was first used in an attempt to define the difference between living entities and other entities. THe main distinction is is that living entities are "autopoietic", meaning that they can produce and reproduce themselves. It is a self reproducing system, system reproduce themselves by observing themselves. This term is also used by Niklas Luhmann in the context of social systems, which is described a little below.
Allopoiesis is a process that is in contrast with autopoiesis. In general it can be said that an organization produces material entities different from those required for producing them. In other words: 'Allopoiesis is the process whereby a system produces something other than the system itself' (Yahoo, 2006). So, another goal is being reached, other than the maintenance of the organization. Allopoetic processes are to be found in industrial production. Reproduction is not the same as self-production (Principia Cybernetica Web, 2002). There are other tools which are used for reaching the purpose. An example of an allopoietic system is a car factory. Raw materials are being used as generator for the car, also called components. It creates not itself, but something other.
Luhmann & autopoiesis
So systems are autopoietic when they produce and reproduce themselves. Luhmann applied this thinking to social sciences, combining the concept with the idea of self reference (when a sentence, idea, etc. refers to itself) and the Possibility of distinction (meaning-making) (Arnoldi, 2001). Luhmann stated that the making of a distinction is something what a (social) system does (so it is producing), but by producing a distinction a meaning is geven and the system is altered and constituted (reproducing): so the social system is autopoietic (Arnoldi, 2001).
References
- Arnoldi, J. (2001). Niklas Luhmann. An Introduction. In: Theory, Culture & Society. Vol. 18, No. 1.
- Principia Cybernetica Web(2002).Allopoiesis. Gevonden op 15 december 2010. URL: http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/ASC/ALLOPOIESIS.html*
- Yahoo (2006). What is the difference between allopoiesis and autopoiesis? Gevonden op 17 december 2010. URL: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20061126144119AAwz2kI
Contributors
Published by Christine Hutting and Milou Pollemans Links added by--SamanthaHazlett 19:55, 17 October 2011 (CEST)
Page edited by Aafke Brus --AafkeBrus 16:36, 31 October 2011 (CET)
Page enhanced and improved by Lars-Olof Haverkort --LarsHaverkort 17:13, 22 September 2012 (CEST)
