By itself the iterant is not distinct from itself but it can be juxtaposed with a copy of itself in such a way that it and the copy are seen to be distinct from one another.
[…]
There are two possible modes of observation of the one iterant. The two modes are complementary. One cannot be seen without excluding the other. This complementarity arises almost paradoxically from the fact that the iterant itself does not 'have" these two states. The states arise through the juxtaposition of the iterant with itself.
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KAUFFMAN, Louis H., 1998. Space and Time in Computation and Discrete Physics. International Journal of General Systems. Online. November 1998. Vol. 27, no. 1–3, p. 249–273. DOI 10.1080/03081079808962067. [Accessed 23 June 2024].
A Step can be regarded as an elementary ordering of two objects (or operators). A step is a distinction combined with an action that crosses the boundary of that distinction. The elementary step can be seen as a reference, as a division of space or as a tick of a clock. By looking at the structure of a step, we provide a context that unifies specific aspects of special relativity, Laws of Form, topology, discrete physics and logic design.