From Autopoiesis to Symbiotic Entanglement: Rethinking Enactivism Through Metabolism and Microbes

Summary

Enactivism, a theory of cognition, has been criticized for lacking scientific grounding or relying on outdated research. This paper uses metabolic and microbiome research to argue that core enactivist concepts like self-production and autonomy are challenged by evidence of heteronomy and symbiosis in cognitive, developmental, and evolutionary processes. The findings suggest enactivism should moderate its commitment to autopoietic theory and integrate reductive biological approaches within its holistic framework.

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Abstract

Enactivism has recently faced criticism for either leaning too heavily on philosophical speculation without clear scientific grounding, or relying on quite old empirical work in cognitive science, especially concerning sensorimotor actions. While one can push back against such charges, in this paper we take a different approach. We will use metabolic and microbiome research as a case study to help make this problem vivid, and to outline a path forward. First, we contend that a closer look at metabolism and microbiota-host interactions places pressure upon some of the core ‘autopoietic’ concepts of enactivism, including self-production, autonomy, and operational closure. This research instead appears to emphasise heteronomy and symbiosis in cognitive, developmental, and evolutionary processes, posing in effect an ontological challenge. Second, it also raises some questions about enactivism’s traditional avoidance of reductionist explanations, suggesting that there is an epistemic need for a philosophy of science that clarifies how to integrate more reductive biological programs within holistic enactivist frameworks. To meet these challenges, we argue that enactivism needs to moderate its commitments to autopoietic theory.

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