Autopoiesis
Can agency and determinism be combined? Helen Steward in her book A Metaphysics of Freedom asserts agency. Agency is the ability of a Subject to effect a physical change in the world apart from the limit of antecedent brain states. The position is that of incompatibilism. Agency and determinism are incompatible descriptions of human behavior.
There is certainly a logical contradiction involved –but is one thereby coerced into picking a side? Certainly all of our relationships, from that which obtains to ones self, to extended societal and even relationships between nations assume response-ability for actions taken. Perhaps this is an illusion, but it happens to be a necessary one. The causal ability of Subjects is the gateway to human association, and the privilege of learning from ones fellows. Our concept of “truth” could never have been born, without the assumption that a self-aware human makes meaningful choices.
That is not to deny the facticity of biochemical cause and effect. Every organism can usefully be described as an energy exchange system that is self-regulating, exquisitely tuned to the external environment. The wonderful descriptive power, and the utility of the sciences is due to the assumption that there are no effects without a cause. The relationship between causes and effects can be expressed mathematically, and with appropriate vocabulary.
My gut tells me that some form of compatibility which describes a substrate of chemical, neural causation and a “emergent ability” to compare scenarios, theories if you will, is called for. Hypotheticals are considered, a choice/act is made and a new world is “under construction.” We advance, –perhaps all of Nature advances by trial and error, but it is not blind, driven solely by antecedent states.
Lately I have observed a grandchild who is achieving mastery of language. In fact mastery of many dimensions of his experience is underway. With the increase of vocabulary and use of syntax, his freedom will increase exponentially. The widening field of freedom will be primarily of the mind, of the imagination. The awareness of self and the world, the growth of appreciation, and of productive engagement with the world comes apace with words. The awakening has begun. He will create himself and a world.
By words a world and a self are created.
