Thinking in Complexity: The Computational Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and MankindThe theory of nonlinear, complex systems has become by now a proven problem-solving approach in the natural sciences. And it is now also recognized that many if not most of our social, ecological, economical and political problems are essentially of a global, complex and nonlinear nature. And it is now further accepted than any holistic perspective of the human mind and brain can hardly be achieved by any other approach. In this wide-ranging, scholarly but very concise treatment, physicist, computer scientist and philosopher Klaus Mainzer discusses, in essentially nontechnical language, the common framework behind these ideas and challenges. Emphasis is given to the evolution of new structures in natural and cultural systems and we are lead to see clearly how the new integrative approach can give insights not available from traditional reductionistic methods. The fifth edition enlarges and revises almost all sections and supplements an entirely new chapter on the complexity of economic systems. From the reviews of the fourth edition: "This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite with 22 pages of references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully written and illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the science of complexity. Even beginners and young graduate students will have something to learn from this book." (Andre Hautot, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005) "All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH, vol. 1046, 2004) "Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer's exposition, which is based on a tight coupling between classical and historical concepts from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical developments . Every chapter begins with a section designed to orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. The author takes pains to point out essential differences between classical science and the science of complexity. Thinking in Complexity is an outstandingly readable book." (Anutosh Moitra, The Industrial Physicist, August/September, 2004) |
From inside the book
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... principles. But a new engineering view has focused the exploration of complexity. On the one hand, we need new computational instruments to analyze complex data and recognize future trends. On the other hand, the principles of complex ...
... principle, i.e., solutions of this equation (wave functions or state vectors) can be superposed like in classical optics. The superposition or linearity principle of quantum mechanics delivers correlated (“entangled”) states of combined ...
... principle the ring waves would penetrate each other like optical waves. The phase transitions of nonlinear dissipative complex systems are explained by synergetics. In a more qualitative way we may say that old structures become ...
... principles. As in the case of pattern formation, a specific pattern of recognition (for instance a prototype face) is ... principle the features of a recognized pattern correspond to the enslaved subsystems during pattern formation. But ...
... principle. Anyway, the complex system approach solves an old metaphysical puzzle which was described by Leibniz in ... principles of nonlinear complex systems do not depend on the biochemistry of the human brain.The human brain is a ...
Contents
1 | |
10 | |
17 | |
Complex Systems and the Evolution of Life | 87 |
Complex Systems and the Evolution of MindBrain | 123 |
Complex Systems and the Evolution of Computability | 179 |
Complex Systems and the Evolution of Economies | 311 |
Complex Systems and the Evolution of Human Culture and Society 367 | 366 |
Epilogue on Future Science and Ethics | 417 |
References 441 | 440 |
Subject Index | 469 |
Name Index 479 | 478 |