This project is a Python-based simulation of autopoiesis, inspired by the work of Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela. It aims to build a model of self-organizing cellular automata in a liquid-like environment, where particles (substrates, catalysts, and links) interact dynamically to form and maintain structures. The simulation is built using Pygame for visualization and Pymunk for physics-based interactions.
Autopoiesis refers to the self-maintaining and self-producing nature of living systems. This simulation explores the concept by modeling particles in a liquid environment that interact to form bonds, catalyze reactions, and maintain their structure over time. The simulation is a simplified representation of the principles outlined in Maturana and Varela's work, providing a visual and interactive way to understand autopoietic systems.
- Dynamic Particle Interactions: Substrates, catalysts, and links interact based on physical and chemical rules.
- Brownian Motion: Particles move randomly, simulating a liquid environment.
- Self-Organization: Particles form bonds and structures dynamically.
- Real-Time Visualization: Built with Pygame for real-time rendering of the simulation.
- Physics-Based Interactions: Uses Pymunk for realistic physics simulations.
- Statistics Tracking: Tracks the number of substrates, links, and bonds in real-time.
- Clone the Repository:
git clone https://github.com/jancarauma/autopoiesis-simulation.git cd autopoiesis-simulation - Install Dependencies:
Ensure you have Python 3.7+ installed. Then, install the required libraries:
pip install pygame pymunk
- Run the Simulation:
python autopoiesis_simulation.py
- Run the Simulation: Execute the script to start the simulation.
- Observe Interactions: Watch as substrates, catalysts, and links interact to form bonds and structures.
- Track Statistics: Monitor the number of substrates, links, and bonds in real-time.
- Exit: Press ESC or close the window to stop the simulation.
Contributions are welcome! If you'd like to contribute, please follow these steps:
- Fork the repository.
- Create a new branch for your feature or bugfix.
- Commit your changes.
- Submit a pull request.
Please ensure your code follows the project's style and includes appropriate documentation.
This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
Inspired by the work of Humberto Maturana and Francisco Varela on autopoiesis.
Built using Pygame and Pymunk.
Special thanks to the open-source community for their invaluable tools and resources.
- Add more complex particle interactions.
- Introduce environmental factors (e.g., temperature, pH).
- Improve visualization and user interface.
- Optimize performance for larger simulations.
Enjoy exploring! 🌱