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Ecological Clues to the Nature of Consciousness

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Ecological Clues to the Nature of Consciousness entropy Concept Paper Ecological Clues to the Nature of Consciousness Robert E. Ulanowicz 1,2 1 Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-8525, USA; [email protected]; Tel.: +1-(352)-392-6917 2 Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Solomons, MD 20688-0038, USA Received: 20 April 2020; Accepted: 26 May 2020; Published: 30 May 2020 Abstract: Some dynamics associated with consciousness are shared by other complex macroscopic living systems. For example, autocatalysis, an active agency in ecosystems, imparts to them a centripetality, the ability to attract resources that identifies the system as an agency apart from its surroundings. It is likely that autocatalysis in the central nervous system likewise gives rise to the phenomenon of selfhood, id or ego. Similarly, a coherence domain, as constituted in terms of complex bi-level coordination in ecosystems, stands as an analogy to the simultaneous access the mind has to assorted information available over different channels. The result is the feeling that various features of one’s surroundings are present to the individual all at once. Research on these phenomena in other fields may suggest empirical approaches to the study of consciousness in humans and other higher animals. Keywords: autocatalysis; centripetality; coherence domain; consciousness; ecosystem dynamics; simultaneity 1. Introduction Panpsychism is the view that all features of the natural world share elements of consciousness or mind. One need not accept this belief in its entirety to acknowledge that behaviors contributing to consciousness might be evident in natural systems seemingly removed from the brain or human mental activity, thereby contributing insights into the nature of consciousness and how it might have arisen. While physics certainly can contribute to understanding many biotic phenomena, it is limited in that its laws can treat only collections of indistinguishable objects [1]. This restriction to homogeneous variables makes it difficult to apply the fundamental laws to behaviors among radically different biological kinds [2,3]. Ecology, in contrast with physics, embraces heterogeneity in its very foundations with its emphasis on the relationships among many differing types. Some even assert that proto-ecosystem behaviors had to precede the appearance of the first organisms—that physical cycling among regions that are dominated by antagonistic reactions (e.g., oxidation/reduction) provided the crucible that fostered the first proto-organisms [4]. It is thus plausible to consider whether some features of ecosystem dynamics might resemble those of the complex phenomenon known as consciousness. There is almost universal agreement that the experience of consciousness is one of the most difficult problems facing science. Theories of consciousness are common [5,6], relying on a host of subsidiary theories and phenomena. The major challenge is to connect consciousness to theories that are amenable to quantification, and empirical investigation [7]. One such endeavor is the Global Workspace Theory, where information is considered to be held in a global workspace and distributed to brain modules associated with specific tasks [8]. Another is Integrated Information Theory [9], which is an attempt to quantify the information that is actually fed back into the neuronal system to change it. The following essay is an attempt simply to highlight two ecosystem repertoires that might contribute to these efforts to illumine the very complex phenomenon of consciousness. Entropy 2020, 22, 611; doi:10.3390/e22060611 www.mdpi.com/journal/entropy EntropyEntropy2020 2020, 22, 2,2 611, x FOR PEER REVIEW 22 of of 10 10 The first such behavior is autocatalysis, in which major reactants and products catalyze one anotherThe in first a closed such behavior fashion. isSuch autocatalysis, autocatalytic in dynamics which major are reactantscapable of and engendering products catalyzea progressive one anothertendency in to a closeddraw ever fashion. more Such resources autocatalytic into its dynamicsactive orbit. are (See capable example of engendering below.) This a phenomenon progressive tendencywas noted to drawin chemistry ever more decades resources ago intoby Bertrand its active Russell orbit. (See [10] example, who called below.) it “chem This phenomenonical imperialism” was notedand he in pointed chemistry to it decades as the drive ago byr behind Bertrand all Russellof evolution. [10], who Ulanowicz called it [11] “chemical instead imperialism”used Isaac Newton’s and he pointedterm, “centripetality” to it as the driver to describe behind allsuch of accumulation. evolution. Ulanowicz Despite [the11] fact instead that usedthis phenomenon Isaac Newton’s is readily term, “centripetality”visible in all living to describe systems, such it accumulation. appears on no Despite one’s thelist factof the that fundamental this phenomenon properties is readily of life. visible For inexample, all living Varela systems, et al. it [12] appears, in their on nodetailed one’s listpioneering of the fundamental description of properties autopoesis of life.(as engendered For example, by Varelaautocatalysis) et al. [12],, do in theirnot detailedtouch upon pioneering the phenomenon. description ofYet, autopoesis the phenomenon (as engendered implicitly by autocatalysis), defines the dosystem not touch as a self, upon the the focus phenomenon. of its component Yet, the activities. phenomenon implicitly defines the system as a self, the focusThe of its second component property activities. concerns the simultaneity with which various sources of information are accessibleThe second to a virtual property center concerns that may the simultaneitybe defined by with centripetality. which various That sources is, at any of informationmoment, an areindividual’s accessible attention to a virtual may center be focused that may on bea particular defined by thing centripetality. or activity, That but is,that at agent any moment, remains anconscious individual’s of a host attention of other may sources be focused of information on a particular—neuronal, thing visual or activity,, olfactory, but taste that agentor sensory remains—all conscioustranspiring of at a hostthe same of other time sources on the periphery of information—neuronal, of the mind. The theoretical visual, olfactory, origins taste of such or sensory—all simultaneity transpiringmight be traced at the sameback timeto physics, on the peripheryand in particular of the mind. to the The notion theoretical of a origins“coherence of such domain”. simultaneity Such mightcoherence be traced is exhibited back to physics, by persisting and in particular aggregations to the notionof hundreds of a “coherence or more domain”. water molecules Such coherence in the isplasmas exhibited of living by persisting systems aggregations [13]. Below, how of hundreds the same or coherent more water behavior molecules might in be the extrapolated plasmas of to living work systemsin the process [13]. Below, of ecosystem how the development same coherent is behaviordiscussed might [14]. be extrapolated to work in the process of ecosystem development is discussed [14]. 2. Towards a Conception of Self 2. Towards a Conception of Self Autocatalysis is a dynamic that appears in consciousness literature (e.g., [15–17]. Broadly defined,Autocatalysis an autocatalytic is a dynamic set is a that collection appears of in entities, consciousness each of which literature benefits (e.g., [and15– 17is ].benefitted Broadly defined,by other anentities autocatalytic within the set same is a collection set so as ofto entities,maintain each the ofconfiguration which benefits of the and wh isole. benefitted To illumine by other some entities of the withinproperties the same of setautocatalysis, so as to maintain one themay configuration begin by ofconsidering the whole. Tosimple illumine autocatalytic some of the cycles. properties An ofautocatalytic autocatalysis, cycle one mean may begins any bycycle considering of processes simple for autocatalyticwhich each constituent cycles. An autocatalytic process benefits cycle the means next anyone cyclein the of sequence processes [18] for. whichIn Figure each 1, constituentfor example, process if process benefits A facilitates the next another one in the process, sequence B, and [18 ].B Inbenefit Figures 1C,, forwhich example, in its turn if process augments A facilitates A, then another the activity process, of A B, indirectly and B benefits promotes C, which itself. in The its same turn augmentsgoes, of course, A, then for the B activityand C. of A indirectly promotes itself. The same goes, of course, for B and C. Figure 1. Schematic of a hypothetical three-component autocatalytic cycle. Figure 1. Schematic of a hypothetical three-component autocatalytic cycle. As an ecological example of autocatalysis, one may consider the aquatic community that develops As an ecological example of autocatalysis, one may consider the aquatic community that around a family of aquatic weeds known as Bladderworts (genus Utricularia)[19]. Scattered along the develops around a family of aquatic weeds known as Bladderworts (genus Utricularia) [19]. Scattered feather-like stems and leaves of these plants are small visible bladders that normally maintain within along the feather-like stems and leaves of these plants are small visible bladders that normally themselves a lower osmotic pressure than their surroundings (Figure2a). At the end of each bladder maintain
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