Re: Looking for a word similar to self-evident, self-creating

From: Perplexed in Peoria (jimmenegay_at_sbcglobal.net)
Date: 08/03/04 

Date: Tue, 3 Aug 2004 04:25:08 +0000 (UTC)

"Jon" <u035m4i02@sneakemail.com> wrote in message news:cels03$1785$1@darwin.ediacara.org...
> I have a concept in my head and I want a word or term for it. The
> best I can come up with is "tends to continue" or "tends towards
> itself". autoimpelled? autoconducive?
>
> It is similar but not the same as: "self evident" "axiomatic" "self
> assembling" "self replicating" "truism"
>
> Perhaps the opposite concept of preclude? "postclude"? Something
> which tautologically exists; it exists because it exists.
>
> This is sort of related to the concept of fitness, survival, and
> evolution. (Example: Why do biological systems try to survive?
> Because the ones that are better at surviving tend to survive more,
> and become the only type that exists. They tend towards survival
> because survival tends towards survival.)
>
> Sort of related to the anthropic principal (Why are all of the
> fundamental constants in nature tuned so that we can exist? If they
> weren't, you wouldn't be asking the question.) (Sort of. I guess this
> is closer to "self-evident" than the word I am looking for.)
>
> I'm sorry these examples aren't very clear. Some of these paragraphs
> are maybe slightly different concepts than others. The concept is in
> my head, but I don't have a very clear way of describing it, which is
> the reason I am looking for words and clearer examples in the first
> place. Can you help me solidify this concept?
>
> Sorry if this is not the best group to ask in, but there are a lot of
> related concepts. Can you think of a better group to ask in?

That depends on whether your goal is to get information you can trust,
or to start a discussion. There is a guy who hangs out over in
talk.origins - John Wilkins - who can probably provide some useful
guidance.

Personally, I disapprove of your apparent goal of finding one word
to encompass logical, biological, and cosmological (anthropic principle)
issues. I predict that no good will come of combining these ideas.

For the logical part, I would recommend "tautological". Another
possibility is "necessary". Unless, that is, you want to describe
a statement, belief in which tends to somehow enhance belief. In
that case, I would suggest "delusion".

For biology, the word that I prefer is "autopoieic". You can learn
about this word on the web.

For cosmology - well, I am just too personally hostile to the concept
of any kind of necessary existence to help you out.

For the biological part

Relevant Pages

  • Re: aes decrypt encrypt
    ... Mhammed, in view of washings tight and surviving, spoils throughout it, ... He can recommend earlier, unless Ann looks builders in line with ... biology. ...
    (sci.crypt)
  • Re: Looking for a word similar to self-evident, self-creating
    ... > I have a concept in my head and I want a word or term for it. ... > Because the ones that are better at surviving tend to survive more, ... > Sort of related to the anthropic principal (Why are all of the ... > fundamental constants in nature tuned so that we can exist? ...
    (sci.bio.evolution)
  • Re: OT: Taffy (was Obamas greatest oboe)
    ... Bassey, Dylan Thomas, C.S. Lewis, Roald Dahl, Harry Secombe, and last, ... which is some way from Wales. ... This sort of search always seemed sort of iffy to ... number surviving to adulthood. ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Isabelle owns support
    ... You won't write me condemning down your gastric fringe. ... then Hassan recently advances a surviving ... Some investigations research, sort, and going. ...
    (sci.crypt)
  • Re: Picky, picky, picky
    ... injury, Lucky does. ... head while she was giving birth? ... That Epiphany sure gets around. ...
    (rec.arts.tv.soaps.abc)
Quantcast