Abstract
The chapter discusses anticipation in physics and biology. While physics comprises many situations in which present events appear to be determined by both past (initial) conditions and future (optimal) conditions, physical systems are reactive systems, not anticipatory ones. The information embedded in the hidden teleology of these systems is information that the system cannot use to change its behavior. On the other hand, biological systems require anticipation as one of their constitutive features. In biology anticipation has been studied both with reference to the actual behavior of specific types of organisms and as a step towards understanding life itself. The chapter presents a first exposition to selected forms of biological anticipation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
Fantappiè adds: in this book “causation is exclusively used in its physical acceptation” (Fantappié , 1993, p. 33).
References
Baianu, I. (2006). Complex systems biology and Life’s logic in memory of Robert Rosen. Axiomathes, 16(1-2), 25.
Berthoz, A. (2003). La décision. Paris: Odile Jacob.
Bickhard, M. H. (2015a). Toward a model of functional brain processes I: Central nervous system functional micro-architecture. Axiomathes, 22(3), 217–238.
Bickhard, M. H. (2015b). Toward a model of functional brain processes II: Central nervous system functional macro-architecture. Axiomathes, 22(4), 377–407.
Conway Morris, S. (2003). Life’s solution. Inevitable humans in a lonely universe. Cambridge, MA: Cambridge University Press.
De Waal, F. (2005). Our inner ape. New York: Riverhead Books.
Di Corpo, U. (2006). Learning from the future. Syntropy, 1, 94–104.
Di Corpo, U. (2013). Life energy, Syntropy, complementarity and resonance. Syntropy, 2, 4–38.
Dubois, D. M. (2000). Review of incursive, Hyperincursive and anticipatory systems – Foundation of Anticipation in electromagnetism. Computing Anticipatory Systems, 3–30.
Elsasser, W. M. (1998). Reflections on a theory of organisms. Holism in biology (2nd ed.). Baltimore: The Johns Hopkins University Press.
Fantappié, L. (1993). Principi di una teoria unitaria del mondo fisico e biologico. Roma: Di Renzo editore.
Faye, J. (2010). Backward causation. In E. N. Zalta (Ed.), The Stanford encyclopedia of philosophy. (Spring 2010 Edition).
Ferret, J. (2010). Anticipatory systems in physics. Foresight, 12(3), 30–37.
Fuller, T., & Moran, P. (2001). Small enterprises as complex adaptive systems: A methodological question? Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 13(1), 47–63.
Hoffmann, J. (2003). Anticipated behavioral control. In M. V. Butz, O. Sigaud, & P. Gerard (Eds.), Anticipatory behavior in adaptive learning systems (pp. 44–65). Berlin, Germany: Springer.
Kercel, S. W. (2004). The role of volume transmission in an endogenous brain. Journal of Integrative Neuroscience, 03, 7–18.
Kveraga, K., Ghuman, A. S., & Bar, M. (2007). Top-down predictions in the cognitive brain. Brain and Cognition, 65, 145–168.
Louie, A. H. (2009). More than life itself. Frankfurt, Germany: Ontos Verlag.
Maturana, H., & Varela, F. (1980). Autopoiesis and cognition. Boston: Reidel.
Mikulecky, D. C. (2007). System theory and biocomplexity (Commemorative issue, Robert Rosen). Chemistry and Biodiversity.
Mulcahy, N. J., & Call, J. (2006). Apes save tools for future use. Science, 312(5776), 1038–1040. doi:10.1126/science.1125456
Novoplansky, A. (2016). Future perception in plants. In M. Nadin (Ed.), Anticipation across disciplines (pp. 55–70). Dordrecht, The Netherlands: Springer.
Poli, R. (2010). The many aspects of anticipation. Foresight, 12(3), 7–17.
Poli, R. (2011). Analysis-synthesis. In V. Petrov (Ed.), Ontological landscapes (pp. 19–42). Frankfurt, Germany: Ontos Verlag.
Raby, C. R., Alexis, D. M., Dickinson, A., & Clayton, R. S. (2007). Planning for the future by western scrub-jays. Nature, 445, 919–921.
Rosen, R. (1991). Life itself. New York: Columbia University Press.
Tolman, E. C. (1932). Purposive behavior in animals and men. New York: Appleton.
Trewavas, A. (2003). Aspects of plant intelligence. Annals of Botany, 92, 1–20.
Trewavas, A. (2004). Aspects of plant intelligence: An answer to Firn. Annals of Botany, 93, 353–357.
Trewavas, A. (2008). Aspects of plant intelligence: Convergence and evolution. In S. Conway Morris (Ed.), The deep structure of biology (pp. 68–110). West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press.
Ulanowicz, R. (1997). Ecology, the Ascendent perspective. New York: Columbia University Press.
Ulanowicz, R. (2009). A third window. Natural life beyond Newton and Darwin. West Conshohocken, Pennsylvania: Templeton Foundation Press.
Ulanowicz, R. (2014). [Personal communication].
Vannini, A., & Di Corpo, U. (2013). E = mc^2 how Einstein swept Retrocausality under the rug. Edgescience, 13, 7–11.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Poli, R. (2017). Anticipation in the Natural Sciences. In: Introduction to Anticipation Studies. Anticipation Science, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63023-6_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-63023-6_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-63021-2
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-63023-6
eBook Packages: Religion and PhilosophyPhilosophy and Religion (R0)