The future of complexity. Conceiving a better way to understand order and chaos

Contents......Page 10
List of Tables......Page 14
Preface (Stephen Barker)......Page 18
Foreword (Sylvan von Berg)......Page 22
Acknowledgments......Page 24
List of Abbreviations......Page 26
Part One: Introduction......Page 28
1.1. The Enticing Fad about Complexity......Page 30
1.2. Intractability in Computational Complexity Theory......Page 33
1.3. The Theoretical Debate......Page 34
1.4. The Dialectic Theory of Complexity......Page 35
1.5. Theory and Meta-Theory......Page 36
1.6. The Ontology of Existential Dialectics......Page 37
1.6.2. The Pragmatics of Existential Dialectics......Page 38
1.6.2.1. The Theoretical Application of Existential Dialectics......Page 39
1.6.2.2. The Further Application of Existential Dialectics......Page 43
1.6.2.3. Direct and Indirect Applications of Existential Dialectics......Page 45
1.6.3. The Syntax of Existential Dialectics......Page 46
1.6.4. The Semantics of Existential Dialectics......Page 47
1.7. Sophisticated Methodological Holism......Page 48
1.8. Chapter Outline......Page 50
1.9. Five Clarifications......Page 51
Part Two: Nature......Page 132
2.1. The Awe of Nature......Page 134
2.2.1.1. Non-Linear Convection Cells......Page 138
2.2.1.2. The Challenge of Meteorology......Page 139
2.2.2.1. Complex Chemical Properties......Page 140
2.2.2.2. The Search for Application......Page 141
2.3.1. Subatomic Particles and Probability Distributions......Page 142
2.3.1.1. The Uncertainty Principle......Page 143
2.3.1.2. The Bohr-Einstein Debate......Page 144
2.3.2.1. An Advance in Chaos Theory......Page 145
2.3.2.2. The Fad of Chaos Theory......Page 147
2.4.1.1. Fractal vs. Guassian Distributions......Page 148
2.4.1.2. An Unanswered Question......Page 149
2.4.2.1.1. Classical Inflationary Theory......Page 150
2.4.2.1.2. New Inflationary Theory......Page 151
2.4.2.1.3. Chaotic Inflationary Theory......Page 154
2.5. The Perplexity of Natural Complexity......Page 155
Part Three: The Mind......Page 162
3.1. The Wonder of the Mind......Page 164
3.2.1. The Evolution of Life, and Autocatalytic Set......Page 165
3.2.1.1.1. Earth-Centric......Page 166
3.2.1.1.2. Extra-Terrestrial......Page 167
3.2.1.2. Begging the Question Somehow......Page 168
3.2.2.1. The Evolution of Six Languages......Page 169
3.2.2.1.1. Speech......Page 170
3.2.2.1.4. Computing......Page 171
3.2.2.2.1. Misleading......Page 172
3.2.2.2.3. Reductionistic......Page 173
3.3.1. Neural Networks and Connectionism......Page 174
3.3.1.1. Connectionism......Page 175
3.3.1.2. Challenging Problems to Be Resolved......Page 177
3.3.2.1. Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems......Page 178
3.3.2.2. The Lucas-Penrose Argument......Page 179
3.3.2.2.1. Undecidability......Page 180
3.3.2.2.3. Transcomputability......Page 182
3.3.2.3. Some Problems with Mathematical Intuition......Page 183
3.4. The Enigma of Mental Complexity......Page 184
Part Four: Society......Page 188
4.1. The Impact of Societal Complexity......Page 190
4.2.1. Sheer Complexity and Normal Accidents......Page 191
4.2.1.2. A Challenging Question......Page 192
4.2.2. Organizational Anarchy and Garbage Can Model......Page 193
4.2.2.1.3. The “Choice Opportunities” Stage......Page 194
4.2.2.2. Some Criticisms......Page 195
4.3.1.1. Non-Linear and Discontinuous Economic Reality......Page 196
4.3.1.2. The Danger of Ideological Contamination......Page 197
4.3.2.1. The Random Walk Hypothesis......Page 198
4.3.2.2. The Alternative Explanation in Behavioral Finance......Page 199
4.4.1.1. A Simulation of Residential Segregation......Page 200
4.4.2. Norms and Social Inequality in Abstract Games......Page 201
4.4.2.2. Advantages and Disadvantages in Social Simulation......Page 202
4.5.1.1. Rule 110 Cellular Automaton......Page 203
4.5.1.2. Some Serious Problems......Page 204
4.5.1.2.2. Highly Exaggerating......Page 205
4.5.1.2.3. Not as Good as PRAM......Page 207
4.5.1.2.4. Misleadingly Reductionistic......Page 209
4.5.2.1. The Varieties of Agent-Based Models......Page 210
4.5.2.1.2. Artificial vs. Realistic......Page 211
4.5.2.1.4. Spatial vs. Network......Page 212
4.5.2.1.5. Complicated vs. Simple......Page 213
4.5.2.2.1. Advantages......Page 214
4.5.2.2.2. Disadvantages......Page 215
4.6. The Uncertainty of Societal Complexity......Page 217
Part Five: Culture......Page 224
5.1. The Appeal of Cultural Complexity......Page 226
5.2.1. Specified Complexity and Divine Design......Page 227
5.2.1.1. The Case of “Contact”......Page 228
5.2.1.2. The Flawed Logic of the Process by Elimination......Page 229
5.2.2.1. Emergent Order......Page 230
5.2.2.2. Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics......Page 231
5.2.2.3. A Critical Evaluation......Page 233
5.3.1. Free Will and Incomplete Information......Page 234
5.3.1.2. Compatibilism and Incompatiblism......Page 235
5.3.1.4. Cultural Contingency......Page 236
5.3.2. Moral Reciprocity, and the Emergent World Order......Page 237
5.3.2.1. The Western Humanist Perspective......Page 238
5.3.2.2. Moral Reciprocity......Page 239
5.3.2.3. A Rebuttal......Page 241
5.4. Complexity and Epistemology......Page 242
5.4.1. Emergentism and Reductionism......Page 243
5.4.2. Problem Shifts, and Complex Justificationism......Page 244
5.4.2.1. Falsificationism......Page 245
5.4.2.3. Research Programs......Page 246
5.4.2.4. Complex Justificationism......Page 247
5.4.2.5. A Critical Assessment......Page 249
5.5.1.2. Experimental Aesthetics......Page 250
5.5.1.3. The Danger of Reductionism......Page 251
5.5.2.1. Qualitative Value......Page 253
5.5.2.4. Deep Adaptation......Page 254
5.5.2.6. Some Challenging Criticisms......Page 255
5.6. The Myth of Cultural Complexity......Page 257
Part Six: Conclusion......Page 260
6.1. The Future of a Fad......Page 262
6.2. 1st Thesis—The Partiality-Totality Principle......Page 263
6.2.1. Methodological Reductionism......Page 264
6.2.2. Ontological Reductionism......Page 265
6.3. 2nd Thesis—The Order-Chaos Principle......Page 266
6.4. 3rd Thesis—The Regression-Progression Principle......Page 268
6.5. 4th Thesis—The Predictability-Unpredictability Principle......Page 270
6.6. 5th Thesis—The Post-Human Response......Page 271
6.7. An Epilogue......Page 272
Bibliography......Page 292
Index......Page 302