Part of the MFA Interaction Design Weekly Thesis Blog series - 2 of 64

Our cybernetics instructor Paul Pangaro introduced us to a wonderful word last term: Autopoiesis.  Definition via Wikipedia.

(from Greek αὐτo- (auto-), meaning “self”, and ποίησις (poiesis), meaning “creation, production”) literally means “self-creation” and expresses a fundamental dialectic among structure, mechanism and function.

In context of Cybernetics, autopoiesis describes systems which are self creating, or self authoring.

As I reviewed the bookmarks I’ve accumulated and the blogposts I’ve written, I saw a line between my interest in psychology, design, and education. I have always wanted to rewrite who I am. I’ve always seen myself as subject to change, and thus subject to design and to authorship. It’s why this idea of “you are what you think” stuck with me so strongly.

It is also why I found this TED talk “I am my connectome” from Sebastian Seung so empowering. (via Brainpickings)

Sebastian uses a wonderful metaphor. The network of 100 billion neurons forms the stream bed for our stream of consciousness. The stream bed guides the stream, the stream in turn shapes the stream bed. You are what you think.

This puts an awesome responsibility upon my shoulders. With an understanding of psychology, and a mindful deliberateness, I can rewire my own brain. I can design myself. Indeed this whole process of creating a thesis can be thought of as a process through which I will design myself.

Self Authorship: that’s what I think education should be about. We are not locked into any given narrative for our life, and while it might be difficult, it is possible for us to rewrite it. Let’s give each person the opportunity, the psychological tools and social tools to explore who they might be. Although there’s a ton of complexity here, I think it has to begin with giving people the idea that we are autopoietic.

Maybe there’s a thesis idea there.

[See also: Seth Godin’s manifesto on education reform, Stop Stealing Dreams]