The natural philosophy of ecology: developmental systems ecology

Complexity is here approached through an extension of natural philosophy to ecology. Complexity generally has two componems-synchronic and diachronic. The first, extensional complexity, explores the structure of form, and process, as nested homeostatic space-time systems of differing scales. In comparison, intensional complexity is essentially developmental, modeling the structure of change as a sere of stages. These occur in a canonical sequence: immaturity -> maturity -> senes-senescence, which is proposed as the basis of a developmental systems ecology. Infodynamics is based in the empirical fact that, as systems develop, they store increasing amounts of information. Development is driven by thermodynamic potentials. Energy gradient instability invites energy consumption, leading to growth, which leads to change. The Second Law of thermodynamics can be seen to be the final cause of any development, including succession. It can also be taken, in its Camot/Clausius formulation, as the final cause of ecological systems, because inefficiency of energy use is an important source of a diversity of energy availabilities. Final cause can be found, not only in variational principles like the Second Law, but is also suggested in widespread similarities (like ecological vicariants) not explained by common descent. It is proposed that deep structures might be considered as a source of these similarities. Structures suggest a semiotic approach, as in, for example, the Umwelt construction of von Uexkiill, which can be related to the Eltonian niche. In a frictional world, no developing system can resist individuation, which is the source of evolution. Continued individuation in organic evolution results in Hutchinsonian niche deployment. It is driven by mutation, and afforded by a fourth law of thermodynamics which, in non-equilibrium systems generates increases in system workspace. This increases informational entropy as well, resulting ultimately in a diversity of species. While form facilitates physical entropy production, the informational entropy embodied in biological diversity facilitates the fastest possible entropy production at a given locate. The paper ends with a brief on internalism, concerning the generativity of material systems.