A Matter of Time: Towards a General Theory of Agency

The paper introduces a graded organizational theory of agency based on temporally parametrized (F, A)-systems, integrating concepts from relational biology and process ontology. It proposes a framework that distinguishes between autonomy, goal-directedness, agency, and open-endedness through the lens of Asynchronous Dynamic Bayesian Networks, emphasizing the role of time in the development of self-referential structures. This work has significant implications for understanding agency in multicellular organisms, synthetic lifeforms, and neuroscience, offering a novel perspective on the interplay between material organization and agency.