Complexity Explained (eBook)

Peter Erdi (Autor)

eBook Download: PDF

2007
XV, 397 Seiten
Springer Berlin (Verlag)
978-3-540-35778-0 (ISBN)

Infos

This book explains why complex systems research is important in understanding the structure, function and dynamics of complex natural and social phenomena. It illuminates how complex collective behavior emerges from the parts of a system, due to the interaction between the system and its environment. Readers will learn the basic concepts and methods of complex system research. The book is not highly technical mathematically, but teaches and uses the basic mathematical notions of dynamical system theory, making the book useful for students of science majors and graduate courses.

Inhalt

Preface 6
Contents 9
1 Complex Systems: The Intellectual Landscape 14
1.1 The Century of Complexity? 14
1.2 Characteristics of Simple and Complex Systems 18
1.3 Connecting the Dots 33
2 History of Complex Systems Research 37
2.1 Reductionist Success Stories Versus the Importance of Organization Principles 37
2.2 Ancestors of present day complex system research 47
3 From the Clockwork World View to Irreversibility ( and Back?) 68
3.1 Cyclic Universe Versus Linear Time Concept: the Metaphysical Perspective 68
3.2 The Newtonian Clockwork Universe 72
3.3 Mechanics Versus Thermodynamics 86
3.4 The Birth of the Modern Theory of Dynamical Systems 90
3.5 Oscillations 92
3.6 The Chaos Paradigm: Then and Now 98
3.7 Direction of Evolution 111
3.8 Cyclic Universe: Revisited. . . and Criticized 116
4 The Dynamic World View in Action 119
4.1 Causality, Teleology and About the Scope and Limits of the Dynamical Paradigm 119
4.2 Chemical Kinetics: A Prototype of Nonlinear Science 123
4.3 Systems Biology: The Half Admitted Renaissance of Cybernetics and Systems Theory 140
4.4 Population Dynamic and Epidemic Models: Biological and Social 150
4.5 Evolutionary Dynamics 157
4.6 Dynamic Models of War and Love 158
4.7 Social Dynamics: Some Examples 164
4.8 Nonlinear Dynamics in Economics: Some Examples 169
4.9 Drug Market: Controlling Chaos 172
5 The Search for Laws: Deductive Versus Inductive 174
5.1 Deductive Versus Inductive Arguments 174
5.2 Principia Mathematica and the Deductive Approach: From Newton to Russell and Whitehead 176
5.3 Karl Popper and the Problem of Induction 178
5.4 Cybernetics: Bridge Between Natural and Artificial 178
5.5 John von Neumann: The Real Pioneer of Complex Systems Studies 179
5.6 Artificial Intelligence, Herbert Simon and the Bounded Rationality 184
5.7 Inductive Reasoning and Bounded Rationality: from Herbert Simon to Brian Arthur 187
5.8 Minority Game 189
5.9 Summary and "What Next?" 191
6 Statistical Laws: From Symmetric to Asymmetric 193
6.1 Normal Distribution 193
6.2 Bimodal and Multimodal Distributions 198
6.3 Long Tail Distributions 199
7 Simple and Complex Structures: Between Order and Randomness 208
7.1 Complexity and Randomness 208
7.2 Structural Complexity 210
7.3 Noise-Induced Ordering: An Elementary Mathematical Model 224
7.4 Networks Everywhere: Between Order and Randomness 226
8 Complexity of the Brain: Structure, Function and Dynamics 243
8.1 Introductory Remarks 243
8.2 Windows on the Brain 244
8.3 Approaches and Organizational Principles 247
8.4 Single Cells 253
8.5 Structure, Dynamics, Function 261
8.6 Complexity and Cybernetics: Towards a Unified Theory of Brain- Mind and Computer 295
9 From Models to Decision Making 310
9.1 Equation-Based Versus Agent-Based Model 310
9.2 Game Theory: Where We Are Now? 323
9.3 Widening the Limits to Predictions: Earthquake, Eruptions Epileptics Seizures, and Stock Market Crashes 333
10 How Many Cultures We Have? 357
10.1 Complexity as a Unifying Concept 357
10.2 The Ingredients of Complex Systems 361
10.3 Complexity Explained: In Defense of (Bounded) Rationality 363
References 369
Index 396

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 9.11.2007
• Zusatzinfo: XV, 397 p.
• Verlagsort: Berlin
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Mathematik / Informatik ► Mathematik
• Themenwelt: Naturwissenschaften ► Physik / Astronomie
• Themenwelt: Technik ► Bauwesen
• Schlagworte: brain • Chaos • Competition • Complexity • Complex System • Complex Systems • Computers • Cooperation • Cybernetics • Determinism • Dynamical Models • Evolution • linear optimization • Mind • NC • Networks • Nonlinear Dynamics • Oscillation • Predictability • randomness • RL • System • Systems Theory • Unpredictability
• ISBN-10: 3-540-35778-5 / 3540357785
• ISBN-13: 978-3-540-35778-0 / 9783540357780