Francisco Varela | |
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Born | Talcahuano, Chile | September 7, 1946
Died | 28 May 2001 | (aged 54)
Alma mater | Pontifical Catholic University of Chile; University of Chile; Harvard University |
Known for | Theory of autopoiesis |
Children | Leonor Varela |
Scientific career | |
Institutions | École Polytechnique; CNRS; University of Paris; Mind and Life Institute |
Thesis | Insect retinas; visual processing in the compound eye (1970) |
Doctoral advisor | Torsten Wiesel |
Francisco Javier Varela García (September 7, 1946 – May 28, 2001) was a Chilean biologist, philosopher, cybernetician, and neuroscientist who, together with his mentor Humberto Maturana, is best known for introducing the concept of autopoiesis to biology, and for co-founding the Mind and Life Institute to promote dialog between science and Buddhism.