EIGENBEHAVIOR AND SYMBOLS

In this paper I sketch a rough taxonomy of self-organization which may be of relevance in the study of cognitive and biological systems. I f rame the problem both in terms of the language Heinz von Foerster used to formulate much of second-order cybernetics as well as the language of current theories of self-organization and complexity. In particula r, I defend the position that, on the one hand, self-organization alon e is not rich enough for our intended simulations, and on the other, t hat genetic selection in biology and symbolic representation in cognit ive science alone leave out the very important (self-organizing) chara cteristics of particular embodiments of evolving and learning systems. I propose the acceptance of the full concept of symbol with its synta ctic, semantic, and pragmatic dimensions. I argue that the syntax shou ld be treated operationally in second-order cybernetics.