This podcast episode explores the emergence of order in complex systems, focusing on the origin of life and the formation of autocatalytic sets. The guest, Stuart Kauffman, discusses his work in shaping the field of complex systems and the fragmented nature of origin of life research. The episode traces the history of competing theories such as the RNA world and autocatalysis, highlighting the challenges and ongoing debate surrounding life's origins. The concept of autocatalytic sets, where molecules catalyze the formation of other molecules, is introduced, along with the mathematical and experimental evidence supporting their existence. The discovery of collectively autocatalytic sets of small molecules in prokaryotes and archaea is discussed, providing insights into the earliest forms of molecular reproduction. The emergence of life from the big bang to the formation of autocatalytic sets is explained, along with the concepts of the adjacent possible and Kantian wholes. The importance of constraint closure and the role of work in constructing boundaries are explored, shedding light on the maintenance of homeostasis in far-from-equilibrium systems. The transformative idea of constraint closure is discussed, emphasizing the interplay between processes and the emergence of complexity. The remarkable properties of autocatalytic sets, their achievement of closure, and their role in evolution and metabolism are examined. The concept of exaptation, where structures evolve for one function and are later used for another, is explored, highlighting its role in creating new and innovative structures. The limitations of microeconomics and the need for empirical studies in understanding the evolving biosphere and the emergence of new possibilities for coexistence are also discussed.
