Function in an Abiotic World

Explore the concept of function in an abiotic world through this insightful 41-minute lecture by Michael Lachmann at the Santa Fe Institute. Delve into key topics such as stability, competition, path dependence, and the distinction between selection and sorting. Examine various examples and metaphors to better understand the role of function in non-living systems. Investigate the principles of constraint satisfaction and analyze a toy model to further illustrate these concepts. Gain a deeper understanding of how function emerges and operates in abiotic environments, challenging traditional perspectives on the relationship between life and functionality.

Intro
Examples
Function
Stability
Competition
Path Dependence
Selection vs Sorting
Metaphors
Constraint Satisfaction
Toy Model