selfconsuming

Selfconsuming refers to a phenomenon or process where something uses itself up or is depleted by its own operation. This can be observed in various contexts, from physical materials to abstract concepts. In a material sense, a selfconsuming substance might be one that burns its own mass to produce energy, such as rocket fuel, where the fuel is literally consumed to generate thrust. Similarly, a battery is selfconsuming as its chemical components are depleted during the generation of electrical energy.

The term can also be applied metaphorically. For example, a system that is overly complex or bureaucratic might be described as selfconsuming, as its internal processes consume resources and time without producing significant external output. A project that gets bogged down in its own internal debates or administrative hurdles could be seen as selfconsuming. In economics, a situation where rapid inflation erodes the value of money so quickly that people spend it immediately rather than save it could be considered a form of selfconsumption of purchasing power. The core idea is an internal depletion or expenditure that diminishes the entity itself. This can lead to the cessation of the entity's function or existence if the selfconsumption is unsustainable.