In this note, we will analyze the idea of self-organization—but to do so, we first need to examine the ‘organization’ component of the term in more depth.
Note: Self-organization is a kind of ‘emergence’.
Guiding Questions:
Conceptual (Linguistic)
Operationalization:
How can we characterize the linguistic of the term ‘Organization’? By organization is usually meant structural-functional coherence—a system in which parts interact in meaningful ways in order to achieve certain ends, maintain stability - sustain certain ‘functionality’. By this we can infer - that at some level ‘Organization’ is a epistemic notion that is in the eye of the beholder.
How can we characterize the linguistic of the term ‘Self-Organization’? By self-organization we mean - something that has auto-organized - that is transition from (dis-organization - not functional coherence) to organization (functional coherece).
What cognitive frameworks or metaphors underlie the concept of self-organization?
How do different scientific disciplines (physics, biology, sociology, cognitive science) define or operationalize self-organization? Pattern Formation, a kind of dynamical regime that i tag as order (again very much in the eye of the beholder - every field would have to tag what is order here?).