The moment when physical processes become capable of modeling and modifying themselves
Atoms interact according to fundamental forces. No self-awareness or modification.
Molecules form and transform, beginning to encode simple patterns and reactions.
Self-replicating molecules that can copy and modify their own structure.
Systems that model their environment and use those models to modify their behavior.
Systems that model themselves modeling the world, creating recursive self-awareness.
System creates internal representations of external reality
System includes itself within its own models
System uses models to change its own structure
Modified system creates better models, enabling further modification
DNA codes for enzymes that replicate DNA. The information creates the machinery that copies the information.
Brains modify their own connections based on their own activity patterns. The mind changes the mind.
Science studies reality to improve science. Knowledge creates tools that generate better knowledge.
Programs that rewrite themselves based on their own execution. Code that codes code.
Organisms evolve mechanisms that improve their ability to evolve. Evolution evolves evolution.
Tools create better tools. Technology bootstraps itself into higher complexity.
Life represents the moment when physics crosses a critical threshold: when physical processes become capable of creating models of themselves and using those models to modify their own behavior. This is fundamentally different from simple feedback loops.
Key characteristics of recursive physics:
This recursion is what makes life so different from non-living matter and explains why biological systems can achieve such extraordinary complexity.
Explore different types of recursive systems:
Select a recursive system above to explore how it works...