Student No.

07975043
What is the Science of Living Organization?
Geran !dea"is#s $rst and ost i%ortant gesture is to restate &antianis as a
%ro'"e to 'e overcoe ()hac*er+ ,0--. -4/
!ntroduction
!t is the contention of the fo""o0ing essa1 that the %ro'"e of overcoing &antianis set '1
&ant#s iediate heirs has not 'een %ro%er"1 engaged 0ith. )he s%ectre of &antianis haunts
conte%orar1 science as uch as it does %hi"oso%h1. 2n inattentiveness to the 0or* done '1
the ore %erce%tive of &ant#s successors to radica"ise and invert &ant#s critica" %ro3ect has
caused soe not on"1 to inherit &ant#s %ro'"es. 'ut even to re%eat &ant#s ista*es over
again. )o %ro%er"1 do 3ustice to the 'readth of 0or* and the start"ing inventiveness of the %ost4
&antians 0ou"d re5uire a great dea" ore s%ace than the current 0or* a""o0s. !nstead. 0e
%ro%ose a case4stud1 co%arison aied at revea"ing a sa"" %art of the necessit1 of engaging
%hi"oso%hica""1 0ith &ant#s "egac1. !n conte%orar1 %hi"oso%h1 of 'io"og1 a ver1 &antian
antino1 eerges 0hich divides freedo fro nature. "iits the forces of nature on
e%isteo"ogica" grounds and 'rings into 5uestion the unit1 of conce%t 0hich is the dec"ared ai
of such 0or*. !n contrast. in the 0or* of 6.W.7. Sche""ing an a'itious %rogra of thought is
%ro%osed in 0hich antino1 is o%%osition rooted in u"tiate unit1 and a"" e%irica" unities are
the te%orar1 %roducts of the i""iita'"e forces of a nature 0hich is %rior to ever1 %roduct. !n
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%articu"ar. the organization of "iving unities 0i"" %rovide our su'3ect for co%arison and against
Sche""ingianis 0e 0i"" e8aine the 0or* of 9aturana and :are"a on auto%oiesis. 0hich is the
self4organization of "iving unities. )he centra" te8t for &ant#s 0or* in this area is The Critique
of Judgement, a foundationa" te8t for %ost4&antianis containing as it does &ant#s o0n 0or*
to 'ridge the ;iense gu"f< (2*. :. -75=-9>7. -4/ that divided and underined his critica"
%ro3ect. )he antino1 of this 0or*. %resenting as it does the antithetica" choice of echanica"
or te"eo"ogica" causation. is not a historico4%hi"oso%hica" oddit1 of &ant#s o0n 0or* in ->
th
centur1 natura" science. 'ut a concern to conte%orar1 'io"ogica" theor1. !t is in this conte8t
that 0e ta*e u% the 5uestion of "ife in the current essa1. the insight of Sche""ing#s 0or* as it
re"ates to "iving science and the forces of nature 0hich 0e argue for an i%erative area for
future stud1.
2uto%oiesis
?u'erto 9aturana and 6rancisco :are"a descri'e their ai as 0anting to ;disc"ose the nature
of the "iving organization< (-9>0. 75/. )he conce%t that the1 deve"o%. auto%oiesis. descri'es the
unit1 and se"f4organization of "iving s1stes. )he de$nition of auto%oiesis fro their origina"
-973 0or* is given as fo""o0s+
2n auto%oietic achine is a achine organized (de$ned as a unit1/ as a net0or* of
%rocesses of %roduction (transforation and destruction/ of co%onents that %roduces
the co%onents 0hich (i/ through their interactions and transforations continuous"1
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regenerate and rea"ize the net0or* of %rocesses (re"ations/ that %roduced the@ and (ii/
constitute it (the achine/ as a concrete unit1 in the s%ace in 0hich the1 (the
co%onents/ e8ist '1 s%ecif1ing the to%o"ogica" doain of its rea"ization of such a
net0or* (-9>0. 7>49/
2n auto%oietic s1ste is one in 0hich the %arts 0or* to %roduce the 0ho"e and the 0ho"e
aintains the %arts. )he si%"est instantiation of such a s1ste 0ou"d 'e a 'io"ogica" ce"". 2
ce"" e'rane is %roduced and aintained '1 the cheica" %rocesses interna" to the ce"". )his
e'rane contains and %rotects the %rocesses %roductive of it and 'ounds the entit1.
diAerentiating it fro its environent as an autonoous unit1. !t is the relations of %art40ho"e
and 0ho"e4%art that de$ne auto%oiesis. 2s such. auto%oietic entities are u"ti%"1 instantia'"e.
de$ned not '1 %articu"ar co%onents or to%o"ogies. 'ut '1 an organization of re"ations 0hich
a1 'e rea"ized in u"ti%"e 0a1s.
6ro this 'rief out"ine it shou"d 'e c"ear that the conce%t of auto%oiesis shares 0hat ight
a"ost 'e descri'ed as a genetic re"ationshi% 0ith &ant#s rear*a'"1 %re%erce%tive 0or* on
natura" %ur%oses. &ant sa1s that 0e a1 regard a 'od1 as 'eing a natura" %ur%ose 0hen+
its %arts. through their o0n causa"it1. %roduce one another as regards 'oth their for
and co'ination. and BCD in this 0a1 the1 %roduce a 0ho"e 0hose conce%t BCD cou"d.
converse"1. 'e the cause of this 'od1 according to a %rinci%"e (2*. :. 373=-9>7. ,5,/
&ant#s organic %hi"oso%h1 is a %art of his 0or* on te"eo"og1 0hich is aied at grounding an
understanding of a%%arent"1 %ur%osive"1 organized "iving 'eings. ?is conce%t of a natura"
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%ur%ose %re$gures that of 9aturana and :are"a#s conce%t of auto%oiesis. Ender 'oth conce%ts.
the %arts of a "iving 'eing are re"ated to one another in a 0a1 that the1 %roduce a uni$ed
0ho"e. a 0ho"e 0hich is at the sae tie %roduct and %roducer of the re"ations of its %arts.
!f 9aturana and :are"a advance a conce%t of organization the genea"og1 of 0hich a1 'e
traced to &ant#s 0or* ore than t0o hundred ear"ier. 0hat conce%tua" evo"ution has occurred
in this tie? )he ans0er to the 5uestion de%ends on ho0 one reads their 0or*. 9aturana and
:are"a are rea"ists a'out the conce%t of organization in a 0a1 that &ant cou"d not u"tiate"1
a""o0 hise"f. 2t the sae tie ho0ever. the1 dec"are these"ves to 'e ta*ing a echanistic
a%%roach (-9>0. 75/. an a%%roach one 0ou"d %"ace on the o%%osite side of &ant#s antino1. !t
is here that the tension rests. Foes the conce%t of auto%oiesis coe do0n on one side or the
other of the antino1 of 3udgeent. or other0ise reso"ve it in soe 0a1?
)e"eo"og1 and )ie
Fes%ite dec"aring that their a%%roach ;0i"" 'e echanistic< (-9>0. 75/ 9aturana and :are"a
nonethe"ess s%ea* re%eated"1 of the organization of auto%oietic s1stes as if this 0ere a
constitutive rather than regu"ative idea. 2"though the1 de"ineate a ;descri%tive doain< or
;doain of o'servation< fro the ;constitutive organization< of auto%oietic unities (-9>0. 7G/.
the function of the organizationa" 0ho"e in auto%oiesis is re%eated"1 referenced as though it in
fact 0ere constitutive. !ndeed. Funha et a". have argued. against 9aturana and :are"a. that
auto%oiesis is 'etter understood as a scienti$c idea"is to 0hich the conce%t of te"eo"og1 is
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indis%ensa'"e (,0--. ,,44,,5/. Since 9aturana and :are"a e8%"icit"1 refuse te"eo"og1. the
conse5uences of a rea"is a'out organisationa" unit1 ust 'e dra0n out.
&ant recognised that a s1ste of te"eo"og1 is %ossi'"e on"1 universa""1. )hat is. individua" "iving
organiss cannot "oca""1 instantiate natura" %ur%oses 0ithin a echanica" universe. since the
origin of these %ur%oses is ine8%"ica'"e '1 echanica" science. )he a"ternative is a universa"
te"eo"og1 of a %ur%osive"1 ordered 0ho"e fro 0hich nothing is e8c"uded. ?o0ever. the origin of
%ur%osive order fa""s u"tiate"1 into onto4theo"og1 0ith on"1 God ca%a'"e of so ordering the
universe. 2n1 5uestion of the origin of order is deferred to a designer. Such ta"* of a designer
0ou"d "i*e"1 horrif1 an1 natura" scientists. and 0e sha"" see the "engths to 0hich 9aturana
and :are"a in %articu"ar go to %roc"ai their so'er echanis. !t is not. ho0ever. atheis that
%resses the to side 0ith echanis 'ut scienti$c reductionis 0hich cause the to refuse
the thin*ing of a science of iateria" forces. !f. nonethe"ess. 0e %ress on in our e8%erient to
thin* te"eo"ogica" 'io"og1. a 5uestion occurs as to the freedo of the %ur%osive 0ho"e.
!f te"eo"ogica" s1stes deve"o% to the natura" end of their inherent %ur%ose to 0hat e8tent can
this deve"o%ent 'e ca""ed free and the variet1 of fors 'e considered nove"? )he de$cienc1 of
te"eo"og1. 0hich Sche""ing high"ights. is that there can 'e no freedo in a nature that is
%ur%osive"1 ordered. !n fo""o0ing an ordered %ur%ose ;God BCD sets forth soething fro out of
itse"f BCD that contains the '"ue%rint of creation< (Sche""ing+ SW:!!. ,57=,000. 4-/. Such
creation is no creation at a"". since 0hat %ur%oses are set forth coe %refored fro 0ithin
God. and 0hatever deve"o%enta" %ath such %ur%oses de$ne is deterined in advance. Within
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such a s1ste tie 'ecoes e8ce%tiona""1 %ro'"eatic since the end is a"so the 'eginning and
the a%%arent"1 te%ora" deve"o%ent of %articu"ar 'eings is reduced to an i""usor1 deviation
fro an eterna" and 0ho""1 se"f4suHcient order. Iressing 5uestions of conte%orar1 'io"og1.
such as the origin of "ife or the driving forces of creative evo"ution. are rendered nu"" in a
s1ste of te"eo"og1 that is 0ithout tie or freedo. !f te"eo"ogica" auto%oiesis so cri%%"es
'io"ogica" science. does auto%oiesis have a suHcient conce%t of echanis to overcoe these
%ro'"es?
9echanis
)a*ing 9aturana and :are"a at their 0ord as echanists. 0hat is the echanica" conce%t of
auto%oiesis? !n order to ans0er this 0e ust $rst %rovide soe inia" de$nition of
;echanistic<. 9aturana and :are"a e8%and "itt"e further u%on this other than to sa1 that ;no
forces or %rinci%"es 0i"" 'e adduced 0hich are not found in the %h1sica" universe< (-9>0. 75/.
)he forces found so far in the %h1sica" universe. 0hich are the o'3ect of stud1 of odern
%h1sics. are echanica" on"1 in a "iited doain or "eve" of a'straction. )his soe0hat 0ide
de$nition therefore signa"s on"1 their intention to "iit these"ves to that doain. )his
de$nition can a"so 'e seen. fro the conte8t of their introduction. as intended to a""a1 an1 fear
that their 0or* ight 'e unscienti$c. )heir %ur%ose is to dec"are that the 0or* 0hich is aied
at disc"osing ;the nature of "iving organization< (-9>0. 75/ does not intend to e8%"ain this
organization '1 reference to vita"is or an1 other ;%ecu"iar organizing force< (-9>0. 74/. !t is
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this fear of invo*ing a eta%h1sica" conce%t of force co'ined 0ith their narro0 focus on
cheica" 'io"og1 0hich causes 9aturana and :are"a to dec"are these"ves echanists.
9aturana and :are"a recognise 2ristot"e as the source of vita"is. 'ut either do not discern or
do not e8%ress his i%ortance in the conce%ts of echanis and te"eo"og1 J in 2ristot"ean
ters the eAective and $na" causes. Fescartes is a"so "auded as assuring the triu%h of
echanis in 'io"og1 '1 'ringing a'out the recognition that ;no non4ateria" vita" force BisD
necessar1< (74/. Kut the authors sho0 no signs of engaging 0ith the %ro'"e of dua"is. the
disti""ation of 0hich in Lartesian %hi"oso%h1 is sure"1 e5ua""1 i%ortant"1 its "egac1. )hese
5uestions of echanis. force. causation and dua"is 0hich run through auto%oiesis are given
odern for '1 &ant. 2s a %hi"oso%her of categories and su'stance. &ant is argua'"1 one of
the ost i%ortant inheritors of 2ristot"ean eta%h1sics. )he )hird Lriti5ue is aied %recise"1
at the distinction and. u"tiate"1. the inco%ati'i"it1 of echanis and te"eo"og1 in the science
of "ife. )he conce%t of echanis has undou'ted"1 oved on since the scienti$c revo"ution
0hich 0as the era of its %aradig and the generation of discover1 %receding &ant#s o0n. 1et
the c"assica" understanding sti"" ho"ds 0ith odi$cations (nota'"1 therod1naics/ and &ant#s
understanding of echanis is re"evant here.
&ant#s conce%t of echanis cae fro the scienti$c revo"ution of the -7
th
centur1. 0hose
o0n understanding of echanica" causation 0as often (though soeties on"1 i%"icit"1/
2ristot"ean. Such is certain"1 true of Ne0ton. the ac*no0"edged hero of the scienti$c
revo"ution. 0hose 0or* &ant engaged 0ith throughout his "ife. On a Ne0tonian4&antian
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understanding then. echanica". or eHcient. causation descri'es a deterinate re"ationshi% of
cause and eAect 'et0een t0o or ore e"eents in a s1ste. )hree features a1 serve to de$ne
echanica" causation+ i/ the %ersistence of the e"eents. or inertia@ ii/ the %riorit1. or
e8terna"it1. of the cause to the eAect 0hich can a"so 'e e8%ressed as a succession in tie@ and
iii/ e5ua"it1 of action and reaction 0hich a1 a"so 'e e8%ressed as deterinis. !n addition to
these three. 0e ust a"so raise a diHcu"t 5uestion concerning echanica" causation. Since the
entities in a echanica" s1ste are ta*en as %ersistent and inert. the origin of change and the
eHcaciousness of echanica" s1stes arises. 9echanica" entities %ersist 0ithout force and it is
on"1 the e8terna" re"ations of entities 0hich co%e" the to change. Since no force is %osited
as necessar1 for %ersistence. either the origin of force in re"ations of cause and eAect ust 'e
e8%"ained non4echanica""1 J "eading to a %h1sics 0hich is echanica" on"1 conse5uent"1 J or
su%er4added as dua"is. Koth &ant (,004. 5045-/ and Ne0ton (,004. -0,/ recognised this.
&ant hise"f ade eAorts to derive 'odies d1naica""1 'efore retreating to the e%isteo"ogica"
"iits of critica" %hi"oso%h1 0hich is constrained to echanica" e8%"anation.
Whi"e the 'rief descri%tion of echanis given a'ove a1 'e %ut into 5uestion '1
conte%orar1 scientists. the %ro'"es of echanis reains %ertinent ho0ever. )he $rst
feature. concerning the inertia of echanica" 'odies. is co%"icated '1 non4echanica" %h1sica"
sciences at the icro4sca"e. ?o0ever. '1 ;echanistic< 0e understand 9aturana and :are"a to
have in ind interactions 0hich can 'e accurate"1 descri'ed on echanica" "ines. 2n1 non4
echanica" features of the dee%er %h1sica" structure can safe"1 'e ignored at the acro4sca"e.
)he %roduction and organization of cheica" e"eents 0hich are the constituent %arts of "iving
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organiss is not then ta*en to 'e a 5uestion for auto%oiesis. 9aturana and :are"a are indeed
e8%"icit a'out their desire to steer a course 'et0een o"ecu"ar 'io"og1 and evo"utionar1 theor1
(-9>0. 7445/.
)he second feature. concerning the e8terna"it1 of cause and eAect. has 'een 5uestioned '1
soe 0riters on auto%oiesis (7uarrero Mo5uN+ -9>5. -,7/. since auto%oietic s1stes aintain
these"ves '1 %rocesses interna" to their organization. )he suggestion is that since the
%rocesses are interna" to the organized unit1 0hich is the de$nite su'3ect of auto%oietic stud1.
echanica" causation is not i%osed e8terna""1 'ut generated 0ithin the unit1. ?o0ever.
auto%oietic theor1 vaci""ates as 0e have seen 'et0een rigorous ethodo"ogica" echanis and
rea"is a'out te"eo"ogica" $na" causes. !f 0e are to ta*e 9aturana and :are"a at their 0ord as
echanists ho0ever. 0e ust re3ect the rea" unit1 of s1stes for 0hich no echanica" conce%t
e8ists. What 7uarrero Mo5uN %uts for0ard as inherent cause in auto%oiesis is nothing ore than
e8terna" echanica" cause at a higher "eve" of descri%tive a'straction since no genuine unit1
e8ists.
We ust $na""1 address the 5uestion of deterinis in echanica" causation. 2s 0e have
a"read1 argued. deterinis in the "ife sciences radica""1 underines an1 c"ai to genuine
nove"t1 or evo"ution. !n addressing the origin and evo"ution of auto%oietic s1stes 9aturana
and :are"a a*e reference on"1 to ;%ertur'ations< (-9>0. -0G/ in the se"f4re%roduction of
organiss. 'ut do not s%ecif1 0here such %ertur'ations ight originate. !f 0e 0ere to s%ecu"ate
t0o %ossi'i"ities %resent these"ves+ one interna" to. the other e8terna" to auto%oietic s1stes.
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)he $rst ight 'e soe non4deterinistic %h1sica" su'strate to the echanica" entities 0hich
a*e u% the auto%oietic 0ho"e. )he second cou"d 'e environenta" interference. ?o0ever. in
the $rst case 0e a*e reference to a doain of %h1sica" e8%"anation 0hich is on the authors
o0n de$nition outside the %urvie0 of auto%oiesis and a"so a*es reference to non4echanica"
forces there'1 underining an1 c"ai to echanis. )he second invo*es co%"e8
environenta" factors 0hich are either echanica" and there'1 not4genuine"1 nove"
%ertur'ations. or the1 are non4echanica" and again underine an1 c"ai to echanis. )o
argue that *no0"edge of the origin of 0hatever %ertur'ations 'ring nove"t1 into se"f4
re%roduction is 'e1ond the rea" of descri%tive ana"1sis is to institute a so"e"1 e%isteo"ogica"
"iit and to fa"" again into &antian critica" "iitations.
Se"f4organization
2 echanica" descri%tion of "iving organization is i%ossi'"e according to &ant 0ho faous"1
c"aied that there 0ou"d never 'e a Ne0ton of the '"ade of grass (2&. :. 400=-9>7. ,>,43/.
Whi"e auto%oiesis %rovides a frae0or* for descri'ing s1stes of co4%roduction according to
"oca""1 echanica" "a0s it fai"s to %rovide an1 conce%t for understanding the unit1 of "iving
organiss that is not %ro3ected fro the o'servers o0n doain of descri%tion. 6urtherore.
des%ite the continuu of natura" %o0ers fro inorganic cheistr1 to cheica" 'io"ogica" of the
organis 0hich is e8%"icit in auto%oiesis (9aturana and :are"a+ -9>0. 93/ no origin for the
organization nor nove"t1 in the re%roduction of auto%oietic s1stes can 'e given in an
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auto%oietic descri%tion. )hese %ro'"es are in addition to the %ressing 5uestions of freedo
and tie. 0hich 'oth the s1ste of echanis and the s1ste of te"eo"og1 "ac*. Without
freedo there can 'e no genuine creative evo"ution. 3ust as tie constrained '1 deterinis
(either echanica" or te"eo"ogica" fata"is/ is reduced to an i""usor1 %assage 'et0een $8ed
states. 7ust as it 0as the se%aration of nature and freedo that rent the iense gu"f dividing
&ant#s 0or* 0e $nd conte%orar1 'io"og1. re%resented here '1 auto%oiesis. dividing nature
fro itse"f and una'"e to overcoe the %ro'"es 0hich are the resu"t of such a se%aration.
Eniversa" Ih1sics
6riedrich Wi"he" 7ose%h Sche""ing s%ent his "ife engaging 0ith the "atest natura" scienti$c
deve"o%ents. 3ust as &ant had 'efore hi. Kut 0hereas &ant sought to ground echanica"
ateria"is in a e%isteo"ogica""1 circuscri'ed transcendenta" su'3ect. Sche""ing#s 0or*
sought a ;%h1sics of the a""< (see Grant+ ,00G/ 0hich cou"d trace the deco%osition of the
forces of nature through their constant %roductivit1. )he inversion of &ant#s transcendenta"
revo"ution a*es %h1sics a necessar1 %art of %hi"oso%h1 and an1 atte%t either to "iit or
%reature"1 circuscri'e a doain of natura" %rocesses aounts to an arti$cia" se%aration. !t is
the unit1 and diversit1 of a"" natura" %rocesses 0hich drive Sche""ing#s co%"e8 and a'itious
0or*. !n the -79> 0or* concerning the %h1sics of universa" organis. On the World-Soul,
Sche""ing 'egins 0ith the dec"aration that ;no arti$cia" unit1 is sought< (>9/. !n o%ening an
investigation into the organisation of nature in this 0a1. 0ith an a%%ea" to unit1 as an
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indis%ensa'"e conce%t. he foreshado0s 9aturana and :are"a#s o0n a%%ea" to the sae. O5ua""1.
Sche""ing#s ;$rst h1%othesis< of natura" science that ;the %ositive %rinci%"es of organis and
echanis are the sae< and ;one and the sae %rinci%"e 'inds anorgic and organic nature<
(SW!!. 34>=,0-0. 9,493. e%hasis reoved/ 0ou"d sure"1 eet 0ith a%%rova" aong
auto%oietic thin*ers. ?o0ever. it is iediate"1 c"ear fro the sae %reface that Sche""ing#s
a%%ea" to unit1 is neither a regu"ative &antian idea" nor restrained to a ;doain of descri%tion<
(9aturana and :are"a+ -9>0. 75/. Not on"1 is Sche""ing#s reversa" of the %riorit1 of echanis
and organis contrar1 to 'oth &antian and auto%oietic s1stes. 'ut the %rinci%"e under"1ing
'oth e8%ands 0e"" 'e1ond either echanis or te"eo"og1. )he Puniversa" etaor%hoses of
nature as 0e"" as the state and %rogress of the organic 0or"d certain"1 conducts the natura"
scientist to a coon %rinci%"e< (Sche""ing+ SW!!. 347=,0-0. >9/. )his coon %rinci%"e. far
fro 'eing constrained to a %articu"ar e%irica" doain ho0ever. is universa" in the 0idest
%ossi'"e sense. !t is coon to inorganic and organic nature and Quctuates 'et0een the@ it is
%resent ever10here and so no0here %articu"ar@ it is ever1thing and so can 'e nothing
deterinate (SW!!. 347=,0-0. >9/. Such a conce%t is c"ear"1 0e"" 'e1ond the rea" of a ere"1
descri%tive e%irica" ethodo"og1.
?o0 far 'e1ond the "iited doain of echanistica""1 circuscri'ed organic4cheistr1
Sche""ing#s 0or* goes is in %art suggested '1 the tit"e+ On the World-Soul. Whatever the actua"
%hi"oso%hica" va"ue of such an idea. the ention of a sou" is "ia'"e to %ut oA hardened
ateria"ists and it is "i*e"1 %recise"1 this *ind of conce%t 0hich 9aturana and :are"a 0ish to
see oA 0hen the1 %roc"ai that ;no non4ateria" vita" organizing force BisD necessar1< (-9>0.
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74/. ?o0ever. Sche""ing has a ver1 si%"e re3oinder to an1 0ho 'a"* at the inc"usion of ta"*
a'out sou"s in the serious 'usiness of science+
)hat the constitution of conte%orar1 atter is not an origina" constitution is
evidenced '1 the facts in the evo"ution of nature itse"f. )he %henoena of the inner
foration of individua" 'odies are ine8%"ica'"e under the coon assu%tion of the
i%enetra'i"it1 of atter. )his is furtherore evidenced '1 the a'iding ca%acit1 of
atter to 'e trans%osed into a state (as in the 0e"" *no0n 'ut insuHcient"1 regarded
e"ectrocheica" e8%erients/ in 0hich atter. 0ith res%ect to its cor%orea" 5ua"ities.
disa%%ears. 2nd an1one 0ho is si%"1 satis$ed 0ith the so ca""ed ;construction of
atter out of forces< ust rea"ize that the inner being of all matter is spiritual in a
broader sense because forces, insofar as they are something incorporeal, are undeniably
something spiritual (SW:!!. ,>,=,000. G-. e%hasis added/
9atter is constructed out of forces and no one 0ho acce%ts this can refuse that the inner
constitution of atter is s%iritua" ;in the 'roader sense< 'ecause it is not ateria". )his is in no
0a1 a dua"is of 'odies and %o0ers as echanis. des%ite its scientistic cachet. re5uires.
!nstead. Sche""ing ta*es 'odies to 'e the %roducts of %o0ers. and these %o0ers J since the1 are
never ateria" 'ut on"1 the %rior %roducers of ateria"it1 J cannot these"ves 'e cor%orea".
)hat atter 0as not an origina" constitution 0as evident to Sche""ing 0ho ade the %roduction
of atter out of force a %art of the stud1 of a universa" %h1sics. !t is for this reason that he
denounces the ;the ind"ess striving to e"iinate the u"ti%"icit1 of natura" causes through
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$ctitious identities< (SW!!. 34>=,0-0. 90/. )his is rea"is in the 'roadest sense. !n the current
conte8t of an investigation of the organization of "iving unities. to %rescri'e at the outset a
"iit on the doain of descri%tion for our 0or* is to de$ne in advance the adissi'"e %o0ers of
nature '1 e%isteo"ogica" criteria. )he su'tit"e of On the World-Soul indicates the 'road
rea"is of Sche""ing#s %ro3ect+ An ypothesis of igher !hysics for "#plaining $ni%ersal
Organism. Loenting sarcastica""1 on the indiAerent void of echanica" ateria"is in a "ater
0or* Sche""ing as*s rhetorica""1+ ;Shou"d such a force on"1 d0e"" in a %articu"ar organic 'od1.
'ut not d0e"" in the greater 0ho"e? !%ossi'"eR S%ace is not indiAerent< (SW:!!. 3,4=,000.
93/. )his refusa" of. in the 0ords of 9aturana and :are"a. a ;%ecu"iar organising force< (-9>0.
74/ denies vita"is as strong"1 as it does echanis. What forces e8ist for the organisation of
nature are neither origina""1 echanica" nor vita". 'ut the1 are diAerent"1 e8%ressed in the
regiona" %roducts of %h1sica" %rocess.
Sche""ing#s 0or* on universa" %h1sics ta*es u% an e"eent of &ant#s &etaphysical 'oundations
0hich 0as u"tiate"1 disavo0ed '1 &ant. Wor*ing to %"ant echanica" ateria"is on a sure
eta%h1sica" ground &ant too* u% the 5uestion of force in the d1naic %roduction of ateria"
'odies. &ant %osits a re%u"sive force 0hich is given %henoeno"ogica""1 to us '1 the
i%enetra'i"it1 of atter. 2 second attractive force is then %osited 'ased on the %h1sica"
necessit1 of ho"ding the $rst in chec* J since uno%%osed a re%u"sive force 0ou"d e8%and
in$nite"1. $""ing ever1 s%ace. &ant#s categories of the understanding ho0ever. a*e force a
conce%t 0ithout an o'3ect since '1 their nature individua" forces are not 1et o'3ecti$ed. ?e
a'andons therefore the d1naic conce%t of atter and i%oses u%on it the necessit1 of an
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e8terna" and %henoeno"ogica""1 inaccessi'"e force for change. den1ing an1 inherent %o0er to
ateria" 'odies. Sche""ing#s inversion of &antian transcendenta"is is to a*e the rea"
o%%osition of %o0ers accessi'"e '1 a %riitive %ositing ;issuing in rather than from
consciousness< (Grant+ ,0-0. >G. e%hasis in the origina"/.
)he %ositing of rea" o%%osition in consciousness ar*s the starting %oint of Sche""ing#s identit1
%hi"oso%h1. in 0hich the fora"is of his %rocessua" onto"og1 of %o0ers is deve"o%ed. Meason
0hich for &ant deands the unconditioned (C!(. 25G4=K59,=-99>. 549/ is in Sche""ing
satis$ed as a'so"ute reason. an indiAerent %ositing of identit1 and diAerence 0hich instead of
'eing ere"1 a %o0er of the transcendenta" su'3ect 'ecoes a %o0er of nature. a"'eit a
regiona""1 e8%ressed one. )urning 6ichte#s identit1 %hi"oso%h1 inside4out. Sche""ing a*es the
%ositing of identit1 a conse5uence of the e8%ression of diAerentiating natura" %rinci%"es.
2'so"ute identit1. the essentia" indiAerence of a"" $nite 'eings. ar*s the universa" %rinci%"e to
0hich the deco%osition of ever1 conse5uent %o0er of nature devo"ves. )he %rinci%"e of the
division of the %o0ers in their %roduct is deonstrated in thought+ ;)he %o0er that 'ursts
forth in the stuA of nature is the sae in essence as that 0hich dis%"a1s itse"f in the 0or"d of
ind< (SW!:. -,7=,00-. 35>/. )his is no ere"1 su'3ective idea"is ho0ever. )hin*ing. in
0hich the %ossi'i"it1 reQection and %resentation o%en u%. is neither necessar1 nor %rior to an1
e8istent. since ;cognition does not iediate"1 fo""o0 fro Ba'so"ute identit1#sD essence. for
fro its essence it fo""o0s on"1 that identit1 is< (SW!:. -,-=,00-. 354/. )hin*ing identit1
ho0ever. revea"s to reQection the %rocess of creation in 0hich su'3ect and %redicate are
e8%ressed as ground and conse5uent (SW:!!. 34G=-99,. ->/. Over1 %articu"ar and $nite
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identit1. that is ever1 thing. is the conse5uence of a %rocess of o%%osing %o0ers.
Io0ers
!t as a resu"t of the necessit1 of thin*ing rea" creation that. 0hi"e the %h1sics of the a"" 0hich is
Sche""ing#s %ro3ect aintains is universa" focus. the for of its reve"ation undergoes
deve"o%ent 0ith i%ortant conse5uences. Whi"e the Wor"d4Sou" 'egins 0ith a %ositive.
i%u"sive force u%on 0hich turns a negative. attracting force (SW!!. 3>-=,0-0. 95/ Sche""ing#s
"ater 0or* co%"icates this order. )he 5uestion of the origin of the a"ternating series of the
%o0ers and the universa" %rinci%"e 0hich unites their o%%osition is one of the ost diHcu"t in
a"" of Sche""ing#s 0or*. !f there is rea" o%%osition and. in the sae 0a1. rea" unit1. then the
s1ste of %o0ers ground and %recede each other through a s1ste of tie in 0hich successive
%rinci%"es are raised into 'eing. !n the !hilosophical )n%estigations (-99,/ Sche""ing
diAerentiates t0o %o0ers. each e8isting '1 these"ves. 'ut neither ca%a'"e of e8istence a"one.
)he 'asis is a dar* %rinci%"e. an attractive force. !ts o%%osite. the e"evating %rinci%"e of "ight
acts against the 'asis and revea"s in actua"it1 0hat 0as ere %otentia". )he ;active
co'ination of 'oth %rinci%"es can a"one 'e creative and %roductive< (SW!:. 4-4=-99,. 9G/. !t
is creativit1 and %roductivit1 that give the order of the %riorit1 of the %o0ers. and the re"ation
of freedo to necessit1 in their reve"ation. )he unfo"ding of the series of natura" %roducts
according to the $rst nature has a deterinate character as the ground of its reve"ation. )he
conse5uent reve"ation of %rior %otentia" is the %rogressive histor1 of the 0or"d and this histor1
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of the 0or"d is given to us in reason. the fu"" actua"ization of 0hich in Sche""ing#s 0or* is God.
;God is. in accordance 0ith its nature. a conse5uent"1. necessari"1 se"f4reve"ator1 'eing< (SW!!.
305=,000. 79/. !t is i%ortant to note a series of i%ortant e"eents to this. 6irst. God has a
nature J it has a ground fro 0hich it acts. Nothing acts that does not have a ground.
Second. this nature is se"f4reve"ator1 J the 'ecoing actua" of %rior %otentia" is revea"ed to
reason in its deve"o%ent. )hird. this se"f4reve"ation is conse5uent J u%on the origina" cision of
the forces fro unit1 and the ground 0hich is given. 6ina""1. reve"ation is conse5uent"1
necessar1 J the force 0hich dra0s Keing to itse"f is a necessar1 ground of Keings reve"ation.
)here is no reve"ation 0ithout ground. )o a*e the necessit1 si%"e co%u"sion 0ou"d 'e to
reove a"" freedo. We 'egin fro the fact of reve"ation. the a%%earance of things in the
0or"d. and recreate the division and Kecoing of reason on %re4given grounds.
)he %rocess of creation 0hich is revea"ed in Sche""ing#s %hi"oso%h1 forces us to reconsider the
notions of cause and eAect as the1 re"ate to organization. ;Nothing individua" has the ground of
its e8istence in itse"f J for other0ise its 'eing 0ou"d necessari"1 fo""o0 fro its essence< (SW!:.
-30=,00-. 3G0/. Nothing is the %roduct of itse"f for then its essence 0ou"d inc"ude its e8istence
and it 0ou"d 'e a necessar1 'eing. )herefore+ ;Oach individua" 'eing is deterined through
another individua" 'eing< (SW!:. -30=,00-. 3G0/. Over1 %roduct is the conse5uent of a division
in a %rior %roduct. )he notion of se"f4organisation is then 'rought into serious 5uestion. What
organises nature is the division and uni$cation of natures o0n %o0ers. 'ut the %o0ers fro
0hich the organization of %articu"ar 'eings s%rings %recede and e8tend far 'e1ond the "iited
for 0hich is the 'io"ogica" instantiation of "iving organization. Whi"e echanica" or eHcient
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causation cannot 'e e8c"uded fro the %o0ers of nature. the1 ust 'e understood as
conse5uent u%on the %rior necessit1 of nature#s grounds. O5ua""1. te"eo"og1 or $na" causation
ust 'e radica""1 reconsidered since each ne0 %roduct is deterined on"1 insofar as it is
necessari"1 grounded in %rior nature. )he %h1sica" %rocess of ideation is according the Sche""ing
;a necessar1 oent< (SW!!. ,90=,000. G7/. 'ut such archet1%es as nature generates are not
su'stance. genera. $nished or avai"a'"e fors. ;B)Dhe1 are %recise"1 ideas in that the1 are
soething eterna""1 'ecoing and in incessant oveent and generation< (SW!!. ,90=,000.
G7/. )hat is. no end or %ur%ose can 'e deterined in advance. 'ut is itse"f the %roduct of
nature#s generative %o0er. 6urtherore. the actua"ization of an1 %ur%ose de%ends u%on the
sta'"e deve"o%ent of the e%och of those sae %o0ers and it is a"0a1s %ossi'"e that it a1 fai"
in this.
)he tension of the forces 'rings a'out the s1sto"e and diasto"e of "ife J the "iving tension
through 0hich 'eings are aintained. )he a"ternating c1c"e of %ositing and negating forces is
intensi$ed and 'rought through this tension into a unit1. )his unit1 can never 'e an a'so"ute
unit1 ho0ever. On"1 the universa" %rinci%"e 0hich is the inco%rehensi'"e ground of a""
o%%osition has the %o0er to a'so"ute"1 unif1 o%%osing %o0ers and the disso"ution of the tension
of %otencies in an1 %articu"ar 'eing 0ou"d 'e its death. )he uni$cation of the dar* force in an1
'eing is not therefore the end of that force. !t is. as Sche""ing descri'es it. the su'"iation of
that force. 2s su'"iated the dar* force "ies 0ithin order and+
the unru"1 "ies ever in the de%ths as though it ight 'rea* through. and order and for
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no0here a%%ear to have 'een origina". 'ut it sees as though 0hat had initia""1 'een
unru"1 had 'een 'rought to order (SW!:. 35943G-=-99,. 34/.
)he %o0er that is the necessar1 $rst ground of a"" actua"ization in %articu"ar organizationa"
fors is forever he"d 0ithin that sae organization. Not on"1 then does Sche""ing#s 0or*
%rovide a 0a1 to thin* rea" creation and the 'ringing to unit1 of the anorgic. !t a"so. once unit1
is achieved. gives grounds the for the transforation and destruction of this unit1 J 0hether '1
death. disease or utation.
Lonc"usion
!f there is "ife at a"" it can 'e revea"ed to us on"1 in a "iving science and ;What is "iving in the
highest science can on"1 'e 0hat is %riordia""1 "iving. the 'eing that is %receded '1 no other<
(SW!!. -99=,000. 888v/. !f it is our %ur%ose to thin* "iving organization. our starting %oint
cannot 'e static categories %refored or %re4given '1 e%isteo"ogica" criteria. !nstead. our
conce%ts these"ves and the %o0er of reason 0ith 0hich 0e underta*e an1 investigation of the
science of the "iving ust 'e these"ves a %art of a %rocess. )o thin* "iving organization it is
not suHcient to divide a rea". We ust thin* fro %h1sica" $rst %rinci%"es that do not esca%e
the re5uireent that ever1thing has a ground. 0hi"e recognising that there'1 a"" %rinci%"es and
%o0ers are u"tiate"1 ungrounded.
2uto%oiesis %rovides a descri%tive ethodo"ogica" e%iricis for de$ning "iving organization.
Such a conce%t ho0ever. can never give us self4organization. )o "iit in advance the doain of
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the "iving eans either that the "iving ust 'e entire"1 se"f4suHcient. i.e. that there has a"0a1s
'een "iving organization@ or it ust have its 'asis in soething greater than itse"f. i.e.
soething that is not origina""1 "iving. What is not "iving is 0hat is %rior to "ife and it '1 the
necessit1 of thin*ing it#s o0n ground that the "iving science ust recreate in reason a %h1sics
of "iving organization. Sche""ing#s 0or* %rovides the i%etus to this diHcu"t tas*. !f 0e desire
that our 'est science '1 a'"e to give a fu"" account of itse"f and its su'3ect. it is our
res%onsi'i"it1 to thin* again on the &antian %ro'"eatic that 0ou"d "iit and discourage
investigation. !nstead 0e ust thin* 0ith Sche""ing through a universa" %h1sics to a genuine"1
"iving science.
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