Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
#Autonomy #Autopoiesis #Enactive #Varela #loveandphilosophy #4E #Embodiedcognition
Mirko Prokop talks to Ezequiel Di Paolo about the enactive approach in cognitive science and its roots in Francisco Varela’s work on biological autonomy. They explore the ideas of autonomy and autopoiesis, the deeper meaning of enaction, how biological, sensorimotor and social dimensions of embodiment drive the ongoing, creative process that is human becoming, and what this implies about the meaning of love, authenticity, and the importance of staying true to your questions.
Ezequiel is a Research Professor at Ikerbasque, the Basque Science Foundation and member of the IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society at the University of the Basque Country as well as the Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics at the University of Sussex. He is known for key developments of the enactive approach and has published numerous articles and books on this and related topics in cognitive science and philosophy. Most recently, together with Evan Thompson he has reedited the new, annotated edition of Francisco Varela’s book Principles of Biological Autonomy, first published in 1979.
00:00 Intro by Andrea
05:02 Varela’s Principles of Biological Autonomy: From First Encounter to New Edition
11:25 Autopoiesis and Autonomy
19:20 Enaction: Bringing Forth a World
26:38 The Co-Construction of Organism and Environment
33:46 Dimensions of Embodiment
38:35 Enactive Becoming
43:57 The Primordial Tension of Participatory Sense-Making
52:32 What’s Love Got to Do With It?
1:00:36 Authentic Becoming
1:04:40 Staying True to Your Questions
Links to show notes and all works mentioned work by Varela & Co: lovephilosophy.substack.com/p/bringing-forth-worlds-with-philosopher
Principles of Biological Autonomy (Varela, F., E. Di Paolo and E. Thompson (eds.), 1979/2025, MIT Press): https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262551403/principles-of-biological-autonomy/
The Embodied Mind (Thompson, E. Varela, F., and Rosch, E. 1991/2018, MIT Press)
Organism: A Meshwork of Selfless Selves (Varela, F., 1991)
Patterns of Life: Intertwining Identity and Cognition (Varela, F., 1997)
Life after Kant: Natural Purposes and the autopoietic foundations of biological individuality (Weber, A. and Varela, F., 2002)
Links to mentioned work by Ezequiel & Co:
Autopoiesis, Adaptivity, Teleology, Agency (Di Paolo, E., 2005)
Participatory sense-making: An enactive approach to social cognition (De Jaegher, H., and Di Paolo, E., 2007)
Sensorimotor Life (Di Paolo, E., Buhrmann, T., Barandiaran, X., 2017, OUP)
Linguistic Bodies (Di Paolo, E., De Jaegher, H., and Cuffari, E., 2018, MIT Press)
Enactive Becoming (Di Paolo, E., 2021)
F/acts: Ways of Enactive Worldmaking (Di Paolo, E., 2023)
Margaret Boden: theguardian.com/education/2025/aug/01/margaret-boden-obituary
Mirko Prokop is currently a PhD student at the IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Ezequiel A Di Paolo is a full-time Research Professor at Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science. He also has affiliations with the Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics at the University of Sussex. His field of research covers enactivism and embodiment in cognitive science
DISCLAIMER
Educational Content Only
This video is for philosophical exploration and educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice.
Your Wellbeing Matters
If philosophical inquiry ever feels overwhelming, please prioritize your mental health and seek appropriate support.
Your Wellbeing Matters
If philosophical inquiry ever feels overwhelming, please prioritize your mental health and seek appropriate support.
Important Notice
The ideas discussed may challenge your current beliefs and worldview. If you experience emotional distress or confusion while watching, please pause and consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional.
No Affiliation
Views expressed are personal opinions and do not represent any institution, organization, or employer.
Fair Use
Any referenced material is used under fair use principles for educational discussion and commentary.
Personal Responsibility
This content does not prescribe any particular way of living. You are responsible for how you interpret and apply these ideas to your own life. The creators assume no liability for any outcomes resulting from your use of this material.
#Autonomy #Autopoiesis #Enactive #Varela #loveandphilosophy #4E #Embodiedcognition
Mirko Prokop talks to Ezequiel Di Paolo about the enactive approach in cognitive science and its roots in Francisco Varela’s work on biological autonomy. They explore the ideas of autonomy and autopoiesis, the deeper meaning of enaction, how biological, sensorimotor and social dimensions of embodiment drive the ongoing, creative process that is human becoming, and what this implies about the meaning of love, authenticity, and the importance of staying true to your questions.
Ezequiel is a Research Professor at Ikerbasque, the Basque Science Foundation and member of the IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society at the University of the Basque Country as well as the Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics at the University of Sussex. He is known for key developments of the enactive approach and has published numerous articles and books on this and related topics in cognitive science and philosophy. Most recently, together with Evan Thompson he has reedited the new, annotated edition of Francisco Varela’s book Principles of Biological Autonomy, first published in 1979.
00:00 Intro by Andrea
05:02 Varela’s Principles of Biological Autonomy: From First Encounter to New Edition
11:25 Autopoiesis and Autonomy
19:20 Enaction: Bringing Forth a World
26:38 The Co-Construction of Organism and Environment
33:46 Dimensions of Embodiment
38:35 Enactive Becoming
43:57 The Primordial Tension of Participatory Sense-Making
52:32 What’s Love Got to Do With It?
1:00:36 Authentic Becoming
1:04:40 Staying True to Your Questions
Links to show notes and all works mentioned work by Varela & Co: lovephilosophy.substack.com/p/bringing-forth-worlds-with-philosopher
Principles of Biological Autonomy (Varela, F., E. Di Paolo and E. Thompson (eds.), 1979/2025, MIT Press): https://mitpress.mit.edu/9780262551403/principles-of-biological-autonomy/
The Embodied Mind (Thompson, E. Varela, F., and Rosch, E. 1991/2018, MIT Press)
Organism: A Meshwork of Selfless Selves (Varela, F., 1991)
Patterns of Life: Intertwining Identity and Cognition (Varela, F., 1997)
Life after Kant: Natural Purposes and the autopoietic foundations of biological individuality (Weber, A. and Varela, F., 2002)
Links to mentioned work by Ezequiel & Co:
Autopoiesis, Adaptivity, Teleology, Agency (Di Paolo, E., 2005)
Participatory sense-making: An enactive approach to social cognition (De Jaegher, H., and Di Paolo, E., 2007)
Sensorimotor Life (Di Paolo, E., Buhrmann, T., Barandiaran, X., 2017, OUP)
Linguistic Bodies (Di Paolo, E., De Jaegher, H., and Cuffari, E., 2018, MIT Press)
Enactive Becoming (Di Paolo, E., 2021)
F/acts: Ways of Enactive Worldmaking (Di Paolo, E., 2023)
Margaret Boden: theguardian.com/education/2025/aug/01/margaret-boden-obituary
Mirko Prokop is currently a PhD student at the IAS-Research Centre for Life, Mind and Society at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU).
Ezequiel A Di Paolo is a full-time Research Professor at Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science. He also has affiliations with the Centre for Computational Neuroscience and Robotics at the University of Sussex. His field of research covers enactivism and embodiment in cognitive science
DISCLAIMER
Educational Content Only
This video is for philosophical exploration and educational purposes. It is not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or therapeutic advice.
Your Wellbeing Matters
If philosophical inquiry ever feels overwhelming, please prioritize your mental health and seek appropriate support.
Your Wellbeing Matters
If philosophical inquiry ever feels overwhelming, please prioritize your mental health and seek appropriate support.
Important Notice
The ideas discussed may challenge your current beliefs and worldview. If you experience emotional distress or confusion while watching, please pause and consider speaking with a qualified mental health professional.
No Affiliation
Views expressed are personal opinions and do not represent any institution, organization, or employer.
Fair Use
Any referenced material is used under fair use principles for educational discussion and commentary.
Personal Responsibility
This content does not prescribe any particular way of living. You are responsible for how you interpret and apply these ideas to your own life. The creators assume no liability for any outcomes resulting from your use of this material.
