Autonosien

Autonosien is a term used in contemporary discussions within cognitive science and philosophy to denote a form of self-generated sense-making in autonomous agents. The concept centers on the capacity of a system to shape its own perceptual frame and action strategies rather than passively receiving stimuli. It integrates aspects of enactivism, autopoiesis, and predictive processing, positing that agents actively construct models of the world that guide both perception and behavior.

Origins and usage: The coinage appears in the 2010s in speculative discussions on autonomous systems and adaptive cognition, with appearances in conference papers and critical essays. It is not widely standardized, and definitions vary between authors and contexts.

Core ideas: Autonosien emphasizes (1) self-determined perceptual organizing principles, (2) continual reconfiguration of internal models in response to changing contexts, and (3) a feedback loop between body, environment, and sense-making. It contrasts with purely reactive models by stressing proactive, self-initiated redefinition of relevant stimuli.

Applications and implications: In artificial intelligence and robotics, autonosien-inspired approaches aim at higher levels of autonomy and contextual adaptation. In philosophy of mind, it raises questions about the boundary between agent and environment and about the limits of externalist accounts of perception.

Criticism and debate: Critics argue the term lacks precise criteria and can blur distinctions among established concepts such as autonomy, agency, and embodiment. Proponents argue it helps articulate a practical framework for self-directed perception.

See also: Autonomy, Enactivism, Predictive processing, Autopoiesis, Sensorimotor contingencies.