scholarly journals Living beings as autopoietic bodies

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-58
Author(s):  
Mario Villalobos
Keyword(s):  
Natural Kind ◽  
Definition Of Life ◽  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Theoretical Status ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Theoretical Identity ◽  
Identity Statement ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Autopoietic Theory ◽  
Extended Interpretation

In the target article, it was claimed that the enactive extended interpretation of the autopoietic theory (AT) of living beings is incorrect, and an embodied reformulation of AT (EAT) was put forward to remedy and prevent such an interpretation. In this general reply, I want to clarify the motivation, reach, philosophical commitments, and theoretical status of EAT. I do this, mainly, by explicating the notions of body and autopoiesis, and by reconstructing EAT, not as a conceptual definition of life but as a theoretical identity statement of living beings as a natural kind.

scholarly journals Are living beings extended autopoietic systems? An embodied reply

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mario Villalobos ◽  
Pablo Razeto-Barry
Keyword(s):  
Research Program ◽  
Original Formulation ◽  
Autopoietic Systems ◽  
Form Part ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Autopoietic Theory ◽  
Extended Interpretation

Building on the original formulation of the autopoietic theory (AT), extended enactivism argues that living beings are autopoietic systems that extend beyond the spatial boundaries of the organism. In this article, we argue that extended enactivism, despite having some basis in AT’s original formulation, mistakes AT’s definition of living beings as autopoietic entities. We offer, as a reply to this interpretation, a more embodied reformulation of autopoiesis, which we think is necessary to counterbalance the (excessively) disembodied spirit of AT’s original formulation. The article aims to clarify and correct what we take to be a misinterpretation of AT as a research program. AT, contrary to what some enactivists seem to believe, did not (and does not) intend to motivate an extended conception of living beings. AT’s primary purpose, we argue, was (and is) to provide a universal individuation criterion for living beings, these understood as discrete bodies that are embedded in, but not constituted by, the environment that surrounds them. However, by giving a more explicitly embodied definition of living beings, AT can rectify and accommodate, so we argue, the enactive extended interpretation of autopoiesis, showing that although living beings do not extend beyond their boundaries as autopoietic unities, they do form part, in normal conditions, of broader autopoietic systems that include the environment.

scholarly journals A Conceptual Definition of Vocational Rehabilitation Based on the ICF: Building a Shared Global Model

2011 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 126-133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Escorpizo ◽  
Michiel F. Reneman ◽  
Jan Ekholm ◽  
Julie Fritz ◽  
Terry Krupa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vocational Rehabilitation ◽  
Global Model ◽  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Definition Of

Ambiguous terminology in animal personality research: a self-report questionnaire and a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfredo Sánchez-Tójar ◽  
Maria Moiron ◽  
Petri Toivo Niemelä
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Animal Personality ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Behavioural Ecology ◽  
Biological Organization ◽  
Personality Research ◽  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Multiple Levels ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Key Questions

Whether animal personality studies provide insights of broader evolutionary and ecological relevance to behavioural ecology is frequently questioned. One source of controversy is the vast, but often vague conceptual terminology used. From a statistical perspective, animal personality is defined as repeatable among-individual variance in behaviour; however, numerous conceptual definitions of animal personality exist. Here, we performed a 1) self-report questionnaire and 2) systematic literature review to quantify how researchers interpret conceptual and statistical definitions commonly used in animal personality research. We also investigated whether results from the questionnaire agree with those of the literature review. Among the 430 self-reported researchers that participated in our questionnaire, we observed discrepancies in key questions such as the conceptual definition of animal personality or the interpretation of repeatability. Our literature review generally confirmed the global patterns revealed by the questionnaire. Overall, we identified common disagreements in animal personality research and discussed potential solutions. We advocate for the usage of statistically-oriented terminology because conceptual definitions can seemingly be interpreted at multiple levels of biological organization. We expect that adopting such statistically-oriented terminology will, at least partly, avoid the confusion generated by the label “animal personality”, and ultimately help to clarify and move the field forward.

Conceptual definition of one OTEC floating plant

2014 ◽  
pp. 1223-1230
Author(s):  
L Núñez ◽  
A Yraola ◽  
L Muñoz ◽  
L de las Heras
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Floating Plant

scholarly journals Triggers and Their Influence on Health Behaviors

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine S. Gipson
Keyword(s):  
Health Behavior ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Behaviors ◽  
Health Behavior Change ◽  
Concept Analysis ◽  
Healthy Behaviors ◽  
Conceptual Definition ◽  
Optimal Health ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Significant Health

This article provides a conceptual definition of the concept trigger within the context of health behaviors and applies it to the highly significant health issue of obesity. Healthy behaviors are essential to life and happiness, but they do not just happen. They are triggered, and an inner drive keeps them alive. To help patients gain and retain optimal health, nurses must understand the triggers of healthy behaviors. Walker and Avant’s (2011) method of concept analysis is used as the basis for defining the concept of trigger. The antecedents, defining attributes, and consequences of trigger are identified. Findings suggest that nurses can play a role in triggering health behavior change through simple motivational efforts.

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