Forwarded from Galactocosmic Ontological Disorder (Batzy)
The importance of complexity is well-captured by Hawking's comment: "Complexity is the science of the 21st century". From the movement of flocks of birds to the Internet, environmental sustainability, and market regulation, the study and understanding of complex non-linear systems has become highly influential over the last 30 years.
In this Very Short Introduction, one of the leading figures in the field, John Holland, introduces the key elements and conceptual framework of complexity. From complex physical systems such as fluid flow and the difficulties of predicting weather, to complex adaptive systems such as the highly diverse and interdependent ecosystems of rainforests, he combines simple, well-known examples -- Adam Smith's pin factory, Darwin's comet orchid, and Simon's 'watchmaker' -- with an account of the approaches, involving agents and urn models, taken by complexity theory.
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In this Very Short Introduction, one of the leading figures in the field, John Holland, introduces the key elements and conceptual framework of complexity. From complex physical systems such as fluid flow and the difficulties of predicting weather, to complex adaptive systems such as the highly diverse and interdependent ecosystems of rainforests, he combines simple, well-known examples -- Adam Smith's pin factory, Darwin's comet orchid, and Simon's 'watchmaker' -- with an account of the approaches, involving agents and urn models, taken by complexity theory.
Download Link
Forwarded from Galactocosmic Ontological Disorder (Batzy)
"One characteristic common to all CAS (Complex adaptive system) points the way: the behaviour of a CAS is always generated by the adaptive interactions of its components. And the hierarchical structure characteristic of CAS is also generated—particular combinations of agents at one level become agents at the next level up. The organization of a biological organism provides a familiar example:
1. The chromosomes, through a translation apparatus, generate the proteins that serve as low-level agents (catalysts, signals, etc.).
2. The proteins combine to form membrane-enclosed organelles that act as agents for higher level processing.
3. Organelles combine to form cells.
4. And so it goes, through organs, organisms, co-evolving populations, etc.
Such hierarchical generative processes characterize all CAS."
Complexity: A Very Short Introduction by John Henry Holland
1. The chromosomes, through a translation apparatus, generate the proteins that serve as low-level agents (catalysts, signals, etc.).
2. The proteins combine to form membrane-enclosed organelles that act as agents for higher level processing.
3. Organelles combine to form cells.
4. And so it goes, through organs, organisms, co-evolving populations, etc.
Such hierarchical generative processes characterize all CAS."
Complexity: A Very Short Introduction by John Henry Holland
Forwarded from Hacker News
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