Varela

Varela refers to Francisco Varela, a renowned Chilean biologist and philosopher known for his work in cognitive science and systems theory. He emphasized that the mind and brain are deeply interconnected with the body and environment, highlighting concepts like embodied cognition and autopoiesis—self-organizing systems that continuously produce and maintain themselves. Varela’s ideas suggest that perception and consciousness emerge from dynamic interactions within biological systems, challenging traditional viewings of the brain as the sole source of thought. His work promotes understanding cognition as an active, embodied process influenced by both internal and external factors.