the possession of an internal project or program represented and realized through the components of a unity. (Maturana and Varela, 1979)
The attribute of a
unity indicating that it might be used to further someone's aims. Purpose is not an inherent
function of the
structure or
organization of that unity. But the property of a
system involving that unity and some user which converges towards an
equilibrium (
see goal-oriented ), maintains a steady state (
see homeostasis ), survives certain threats from its surroundings (
see adaptation ), etc. E.g., the purpose of a hammer is for a craftsman to drive nails into something, the purpose of a computer is to solve someone's
problem. (
Krippendorff )
