AUTOCATALYTIC CLOSURE IN A COGNITIVE SYSTEM:
A TENTATIVE SCENARIO FOR THE ORIGIN OF CULTURE
Target Article by Gabora on Origin Culture

<hr> Liane Gabora  (1998) Autocatalytic Closure in a Cognitive System: . Psycoloquy: 9(67) Origin Culture (1)<br>Versions: <a href=ftp://www.cogsci.soton.ac.uk/pub/psycoloquy//1998.volume.9/psyc.98.9.67.origin-culture.1.gabora>ASCII</a> <a href=http://www.cogsci.ecs.soton.ac.uk/cgi/psyc/newpsy?9.67>formatted</a><hr>
<TITLE>Psycoloquy 9(67): Autocatalytic Closure in a Cognitive System: </TITLE>
<H1>AUTOCATALYTIC CLOSURE IN A COGNITIVE SYSTEM: <br>
A TENTATIVE SCENARIO FOR THE ORIGIN OF CULTURE<br>
Target Article by Gabora on Origin Culture<br>
</H1>
<ADDRESS>Liane Gabora <br>
Center Leo Apostel, <br>
Brussels Free University,<br>
Krijgskundestraat 33, <br>
1160 Brussels, Belgium<br>
http://www.vub.ac.be/CLEA/liane/<br>
DRAFT WITH BETTER FIGURES: http://cogprints.soton.ac.uk/abs/psyc/199901021<br>
<br>
<a href=mailto:lgabora@vub.ac.be>lgabora@vub.ac.be</a> 
</ADDRESS>
<P><H1>Abstract</H1><BLOCKQUOTE>
This target article presents a speculative model of the
cognitive mechanisms underlying the transition from episodic to
mimetic (or memetic) culture with the arrival of Homo Erectus,
which Donald (1991) claims paved the way for the unique features of
human culture. The model draws on Kauffman's (1993) theory of how
an information-evolving system emerges through the formation of an
autocatalytic network. Though originally formulated to explain the
origin of life, Kauffman's theory also provides a plausible account
of how discrete episodic memories become woven into an internal
model of the world, or world-view, that both structures, and is
structured by, self-triggered streams of thought. Social
interaction plays a role in (and may be critical to) this process.
Implications for cognitive development are explored.
</BLOCKQUOTE>
<P><H1>Keywords</H1><i>
abstraction, animal cognition, autocatalysis, cognitive
development, cognitive origins, consciousness, cultural evolution,
memory, meme, mimetic culture, representational redescription,
world-view.
</i>
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