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Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies

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Chavalarias, D. Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies. Yearbook for Philosophy of Complex Systems, 1(1), 157-170. https://doi.org/10.3790/pcs.2025.1461907
Chavalarias, David "Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies" Yearbook for Philosophy of Complex Systems 1.1, 2025, 157-170. https://doi.org/10.3790/pcs.2025.1461907
Chavalarias, David (2025): Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies, in: Yearbook for Philosophy of Complex Systems, vol. 1, iss. 1, 157-170, [online] https://doi.org/10.3790/pcs.2025.1461907

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Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies

Chavalarias, David

Yearbook for Philosophy of Complex Systems, Vol. 1(2025), Iss. 1 : pp. 157–170 | First published online: September 25, 2025

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David Chavalarias, Centre d’Analyse et de Mathématique Sociales (EHESS), Complex Systems Institute of Paris Île-de-France (CNRS).

References

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Abstract

Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies

Reviewing the development of complex systems concepts such as autopoiesis and operational closure, we show how complex systems modeling as networks of processes via computer simulation can help us to deepen our understanding of natural phenomena and to ground major philosophical questions such as downward causation, the epistemological statute of levels or the question of emerging stuctures. We build on this to question the mainstream western view of socio-economic systems grounded in Smith’s laissez-faire and praise a renewal of the collective representations of what social systems are based on autopoietic theory.

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David Chavalarias: Misunderstandings About the Nature of Life and its Consequences on Societies 157