Toward a Special and General Theory of Autevolution

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Expanded Table of Contents

Abstract

1997 Foreword

About the first and second edition
The evolution controversy: mechanical vs. organic
Cautious revolutions
Advances in Physics and the nature of consciousness
Consistency with current theories
Toward a special and general theory of autevolution
Quantum reality -- is the "many worlds" interpretation reasonable?
The Cat Paradox
Why must autevolution be consistent with existing models?
Is autevolution reductionistic?
Is autevolution vitalistic?
What is art?

Introduction

Historical concepts
The Chapman conference
Ecological and evolutionary Gaia
A search for theoretical foundations

The Gaia worldview (and the need for theoretical foundations)

The Gaia metaphor
Worldviews
Need for an evolutionary worldview
Need for an interdisciplinary worldview
Physics envy
Theory development
Platonic realism
Need for new theory

The Basis for Autevolution (Life as an organizing causal process)

The basic assumption
Analogy with physics
The problem of disciplinary compartmentalization

Epistemology-I (A proposed synthesis)

Epistemology
The search for reality
Growth of knowledge
Evaluating worldviews

Figure 1 (Model for knowledge growth, facilitated by crisis)

Epistemology-II (Criteria for evaluation worldviews)

Criterion 1: Parsimony
Criterion 2: Universality
Criterion 3: Crisis Resolution
Criterion 4: Consistency
Criterion 5: Formalization
Criterion 6: Fruitfulness

Discussion-I (Teleology and the origin of novelty)

The necessity of purpose
Formal treatments of teleology
Teleology and survival
Novelty at the phenotypic level
Disciplinary compartmentalization

Discussion-II (The principle of uncertainty in autevolution)

Form-function complimentarity
Teleology
Non-deterministic behavior
Observer participancy and biological phenomena
Biological optimization
Selective feedback
Coevolutionary implications
Resemblance to information theory

Discussion-III (Cultural perspectives)

Growth of global system science
Figure 2: Scientific integration and global science
Thought problem on global futures

Conclusions

New worldview
Theory of Autevolution
Implications for science
Form-function complimentarity
Punctuated equilibrium model
Importance of perception and psychology
Classical and non-classical evolution
Theoretical constraints

Footnotes

Autevolution
Complimentarity
Consciousness
Correspondence
Mechanism or Process
Paradigm or Worldview
Philosophy of science
Positivism
Quantum implications for life
Quantum Postulate
Reality

References

Chapter references in: Scientists on Gaia

Revised and reprinted from: Kineman, John Jay. 1991. "Gaia: hypothesis or worldview?" Paper delivered at the American Geophysical Union annual Chapman Conference, panel on epistemology, March, 1988, San Diego, California. Chapter 7 In: Schneider, S. H., and P. J. Boston (eds). 1991. Scientists on Gaia. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 433p.

April 1997, All rights reserved
Please address comments to: John Jay Kineman

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