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The concept of autevolution was formed during a 1988 conference on the Gaia hypothesis. Strong forms of Gaia and self-defining systems are found to share an interdisciplinary worldview where biological forms embody a source of novelty at the behavioral (functional) level that can be causally active in both ecology and evolution. This worldview requires, but nevertheless lacks, a basis for non-deterministic innovation at the organism and system level. A strong theoretical foundation may be found in quantum physics, in the principle of observership, and recent confirmation that quantum correlation can be magnified to macroscopic scale within suitable structures.
The term autevolution, or "self-evolution," is proposed to refer to evolution of the experiential or perceptual "self" and the role of that self in evolution. A corresponding theory is proposed, which states that the biological evolution of macroscopic quantum "observership" is the basis of self-definition within living organisms, and that self-definition evolves in a complimentarity relationship with form (special case). The general case states that this process may significantly influence the evolution and ecology of complex systems.
It is thus proposed that a quantum theoretical non-deterministic worldview be adopted to unify the foundations of ecology and evolution, and that a common theoretical basis for phenotypic creativity be formalized. It is further proposed that the modern synthetic theory of evolution be modified to include a second order influence (with respect to deterministic processes) of organisms on their environment. The basis for a scientific theory of autevolution is suggested from the view that the creative property of life is, in theory, a fundamental property of matter that has been magnified through evolution. Evolutionary complementarity between form and function involves an uncertainty principle analogous to quantum uncertainty. Arguments are presented that such a theory (and corresponding non-deterministic worldview) is needed to resolve current paradoxes and inconsistencies in the foundations of ecology and evolution.
The philosophical validity of autevolution is evaluated from basic principles using six criteria for evaluating worldviews. An integrated model for epistemological synthesis is presented emphasizing a realist approach to theory development, paradox resolution, and theory integration. This model offers a basis for evaluating revolutionary worldviews and their consequent theories, such as that proposed for autevolution. It also suggests an approach for understanding the punctuated-stability nature of scientific progress in general, and biological evolution through analogy with information.
Although autevolution and its implied worldview is found to be epistemologically valid, present theoretical barriers, particularly scientific compartmentalization, are found to be the main obstacles to acceptance across disciplines. The remaining criteria for the theory to meet are formalization and fruitfulness. Some guidelines are provided to accomplish the former, and a computer simulation of autevolution is suggested as an initial test. The demonstration of fruitfulness depends first on such formalization. Further development of these ideas may provide the basis for a more general theory of autevolution dealing with system properties involving evolutionary Gaia principles of self-organization, self-regulation, cooperation, and coevolution.
Please cite as: Kineman, John Jay. 1997. "Toward a special
and general theory of autevolution." Boulder: Bear Mountain
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