the formula is a short hand for a dynamical equation, like the ones from fractals,

`f(t+1) = a*f(t)`, "the next state is dependant on what happened in its previous state"

With `f(f)=f` its more mind bendy than that. f is a function, which takes itself as an input, and produces itself. For something to be a live (living as a process, alive as a state), it must come from something alive (if you subscribe to a specific definition of life). It itself is the origin.

Sparked from a section of the article.