Self-organization in relation to several similar concepts: Are the boundaries to self-organization indistinct?
Self-organization in relation to several similar concepts: Are the boundaries to self-organization indistinct?
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DOI：
10.2307/1543475
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发表时间：
2002-06-01
影响因子：
1.6
通讯作者：
Anderson, C
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Anderson, C
自组织是一种概念和现象，系统级模式仅自发地从系统的子单元之间的相互作用中产生。关注于组织层面的自组织，我提出了这样一个问题：自组织的边界是否模糊？在回顾了一些已发表的自组织定义之后，我探索了自组织和两个类似概念——污名化和自组装之间的概念界限。我强调了可能模糊它们之间区别的边缘性案例，并建议它们可能确实在概念上模糊且在实践中难以区分。因此，我提出了一个基于三个方面的分类方案：个体对刺激的反应是定量的还是定性的，是否涉及正反馈，以及个体间的相互作用是直接的还是间接的（污名化）。此外，我还考虑了关于自组织的其他几个问题，包括(1)自组织系统是否可以使用全局信息？(2)个体间活动的相关程度有何作用？(3)正反馈的作用是什么？
Self-organization is a concept and phenomenon whereby system-level patterns spontaneously arise solely from interactions among subunits of the system. Focusing on self-organization at the organismal level, I ask the question: are the boundaries to self-organization indistinct? After reviewing a number of published definitions of self-organization, I explore the conceptual boundaries among self-organization and two similar concepts, stigmergy and self-assembly. I highlight borderline cases that may blur the distinction among these and suggest that they may indeed be conceptually indistinct and difficult to separate in practice. Consequently, I propose a classification scheme based upon three aspects: whether the stimuli to which individuals respond are quantitative or qualitative, whether positive feedback is involved, and whether interindividual interactions are direct or indirect (stigmergic). In addition, I consider several other issues about self-organization, including (1) could a self-organized system use global information? (2) what is the role of the degree of correlation of activity among individuals? and (3) what is the role of positive feedback?.