Reviews (1)

Great introduction to the nonlinearities in social sciences
This books describes in a clear way non-linear dynamical models of social phenomena, ranging from war to revolutions. The approach is straight: a simple model of a given phenomena is presented and the behaviour predicted by the equations (equilibrium states, limit cicles and so on) is compared to real examples. It can also serve as a very accesible introduction to non-linear dynamics. ... Read more

Book Description

Complex behavior can occur in any system made up of large numbers of interacting constituents, be they atoms in a solid, cells in a living organism, or consumers in a national economy. Analysis of this behavior often involves making important assumptions and approximations, the exact nature of which vary from subject to subject. Foundations of Complex-system Theoriesbegins with a description of the general features of complexity and then examines a range of important concepts, such as theories of composite systems, collective phenomena, emergent properties, and stochastic processes. Each topic is discussed with reference to the fields of statistical physics, evolutionary biology, and economics, thereby highlighting recurrent themes in the study of complex systems. This detailed yet nontechnical book will appeal to anyone who wants to know more about complex systems and their behavior. It will also be of great interest to specialists studying complexity in the physical, biological, and social sciences. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

a fascinating book -- recommended to philosophers
Philosophers of science need to read this book: the hands-on
account of how three sciences work is a healthy
corrective to the usual practice of writing philosophy of science
without actually knowing how the science is done.

A Professional work
This is an amazing work. Sunny Auyang has written an easily comprehenedible book on applications of complexity theories to economics, biology and physics. It is a professional writing to professionals in different fields.One needs college level maths and some physics to fully grasp it but she has made minimum use of mathematical symbols. Her writing flows, the examples are clear, some illuminate important issues in the applied fields, some are just homey bits that convey an idea insightfully. A lot of depth in her philosophical explorations of the complexity ideas. I consider this to be a must for any person studying or instructing in system thinking. ... Read more

Book Description

After critiquing chaos, catastrophe, and complexity theories, showing their limitations in the contemporary era, Rich furthers the development of crisis theory and applies the crisis theory approach to biological and social evolution. Treating evolution in the context of crisis theory, he shows that as evolution is both genetic and social, social evolution is an extension of biological evolution. As physical evolution results from problem solving, social evolution develops from the solving of historically significant problems, bringing about, for instance, the post-World War II era of knowledge. In this context, Rich discusses the problems of our era, with an emphasis on the paradox of industrialization and its consequences for wealthy and poor nations alike. The paradox of industrialization is approached in terms of crisis theory and resolved. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

an amazing book
I am thoroughly impressed by this new theory of evolution and its applications in the development of society.I highly reccomend this book to all those that are interested in biological evolution and its effects on social developement. a great book. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents the fundamentals of chaos theory in conservative systems and provides a systematic study of the theory of transitional states of physical systems that lie between deterministic and chaotic behavior. The authors begin with the general concepts of Hamiltonian dynamics, stabililty, and chaos, and then discuss the theory of stochastic layers and websand the numerous applications of this theory, particularly to pattern symmetry.Throughout, they are meticulous in providing a detailed presentation of the material, which enables the reader to learn the necessary computational methods and to apply them to other problems. The inclusion of computer graphics will aid understanding and the final section of the book contains a collection of patterns in art and living nature that will fascinate. ... Read more

Book Description

A rigorous explanation of fuzzy systems theory plus a detailed illustration of specific practical applications of the powerful engineering tool they represent. Contains a discussion of cutting-edge technology supplemented by the analysis of several successful applications in the areas of approximate reasoning, fuzzy control and fuzzy analysis. Includes scores of exercises, problems, worked examples, step-by-step solutions and comprehensive references. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume focuses on the interplay between grammatical and pragmatic factors in the comprehension of lexically communicated meaning. It uses a case-study, modality, in order to illustrate how the plasticity of lexically conveyed information can be accounted for without assuming semantic polysemy. The author's approach to the semantics and pragmatics of the English modal verbs is developed within the relevance-theoretic framework of communication. ... Read more

Book Description

Paperback. The 11th International Federation of Automatic Control Symposium on System Identification (SYSID '97) was held from 8th to 11th July 1997 at Kitakyushu International Conference Center, Fukuoka, Japan. 278 papers are included in these proceedings, covering various methods of different backgrounds, their target systems and applications: subspace methods, control-relevant identification and adaptive control, closed loop issues, neural network-based and fuzzy theory-based methods, application of signal processing to system identification; nonlinear, time-varying and continuous time systems as target systems; and many applications. ... Read more

Book Description

Paperback. As the 21st century nears, there is a need to seriously reconsider many aspects of modeling and controlling large, complex, man-made systems. Integration of technologies and functions requires deep interdisciplinary expertise and technical breadth for successful implementation. Large scale systems theory can play a central role in this effort and it is a strongly held belief that this approach will continue to be of major importance in the future. ... Read more

Book Description

A cutting-edge survey of formal methods directed specificallyat dealing with the deep mathematical problems engendered by the studyof developing systems, in particular dealing with developing phasespaces, changing components, structures and functionalities, and theproblem of emergence. Several papers deal with the modelling ofparticular experimental situations in population biology, economicsand plant and muscle developments in addition to purely theoreticalapproaches. Novel approaches include differential inclusions andviability theory, growth tensors, archetypal dynamics, ensembles withvariable structures, and complex system models. The papers representthe work of theoreticians and experimental biologists, psychologistsand economists. The areas covered embrace complex systems, thedevelopment of artificial life, mathematics, computer science, biologyand psychology. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is a commemorative volume of the World Congress of Systems Science and ISSS, Toronto, Canada, and includes written summaries of the specially featured Keynote, plenary, and symposia presentations from a unique gathering of many of the leaders of the systems science movement. These distinguished contributors address the common theme of complexity, and the management of complex systems, from the perspective of many different disciplines. ... Read more

Book Description

A  self-contained introduction to an extensively used of economic models.

“Linear Quadratic Differential Games” is an assessment of the state of the art in its field and modern book on linear-quadratic game theory, one of the most commonly used tools for modelling and analysing strategic decision making problems in economics and management. Linear quadratic dynamic models have a long tradition in economics, operations research and control engineering; and the author begins by describing the one-decision maker LQ dynamic optimization problem before introducing LQ differential games.

• Covers cooperative and non-cooperative scenarios, and treats the standard information structures (open-loop and feedback).
• Includes real-life economic examples to illustrate theoretical concepts and results.
• Presents problem formulations and sound mathematical problem analysis.
• Includes exercises and solutions, enabling use for self-study or as a course text.
• Supported by a website featuring solutions to exercises, further examples and computer code for numerical examples.

This comprehensive introduction will appeal to applied mathematicians and econometricians as well as researchers and senior undergraduate/ graduate students in economics, mathematics, engineering and management science. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The near future--viewed, in the instance of this 2000 book, as the rest of the 21st century--may turn out to be awful. Prognosticators well known and obscure have envisioned dark times of war, famine, plague, and want; of humans ruled by machines, in servitude to the global economy; of disappearing ecosystems and countless lost species.

Most of the contributors to Predictions, though not sporting rose-colored spectacles, take an altogether brighter view of the coming century. Mostly scientists, scholars, and innovators, they see a time of abundance and technological splendor. Arthur C. Clarke, for instance, foresees the rise of an artificial intelligence that so closely approximates human thought that it will constitute the planet's second "intelligent species ... evolving far more rapidly than biology would ever permit." Another contributor, the philosopher Daniel Dennett, envisions an ever-improving system of education and communications, one that will make it "harder and harder for leaders to shield their people from outside information." Frances Fukuyama, a social theorist, holds that "the further integration of global markets will further enforce the norms and institutions of the liberal democratic West." A few contributors raise alarms about the growth of monoculture, the destruction of the environment, and the consequences of too-free dabbling with the genetic code, but in the main this lively book--which mixes entertaining profiles of the book's 30 contributors with short essays by them--suggests that there are few technological or social problems that well-intentioned humans cannot solve. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Great Minds Think... Ahead
"Predictions: Thirty Great Minds on the Future" is easily one of the most reader-friendly, chin-stroking collections of interviews and essays prognosticating time's arrow I've read, and I've read a lot (Tommorow Now, Metatrends, etc.) Nothing is expanded in depth here. It's more about breadth. If you don't necessarily agree with what Richard Dawkins thinks, then read the interview/essay from Lynn Margulis (re: Margulis, Dawkins once said he'd rather share a conference table with Attila the Hun!).

Some of the previous reviewers seem to hold Predictions up to some pre-conceived notion. Well, everyone has pre-conceptions. We don't come to books as tabula rasas. In fact, there's something funny about the person who had trouble with the lack of "God" in this collection. It's like going to St. Peter's Cathedral and complaining you can't find a good postcard. Ie. can't see the forest for the trees. Maybe that's not the best description, but I believe in God, and science, and the ability of deep thinkers to extrapolate upon the present to guide the future, and even intrigue our imaginations and... pre-conceptions. What's life without change?

As Umberto Eco says: "Don't fall in love with your own airship."

Recommended for general science fans, writers looking for good/new ideas, and anyone who wants to learn about the direction we're going in the time it takes to visit the watercloset.

Interesting, but narrow in focus and disdainful of God.
This book is an excellent introduction to the works and thoughts of some of the great minds in the world today--and particularly those that are housed at Oxford and M.I.T. The emphasis is upon human evolution; attempting to unravel the mystery of human consciousness; the human genome project; and, of course, the computer and it's interaction with us, its potential for achieving artificial intellegence, and the implications of the Internet. If your interests lie elsewhere, look elsewhere. In particular, if you happen be of a God-centered mindset, you will be dismayed--as I was--at the scepticism and even antipathy toward God and all things religious that many of these great minds share. In a hard fought fight, the winner of the award for the most offensive statement in this respect goes to molecular biologist James Watson, who reported,"People say we are playing God. My answer is, if we don't play God, who will?"

One hardly needs to be a religous fundamentalist to be disheartened by the attitudes of many of these gifted individuals.

Not so great minds
If these are 30 "great minds", then God help the human race.Most of the viewpoints are very narrow, with the thinker projecting his or her specialized ideas into the future.None mention the most important influence taking place today that will shape the future.This is the moral decline occurring due to excessive materialism and commercialism.These factors are causing the collapse of civilization.Nobody likes a Cassandra, but I predict increasing breakdown: of societies and the environment.

I predict you might not like this book very much
When I saw the list of eminent minds that contributed to this volume in the index, I bought the book without further scrutiny. However, I was disappointed by most of the contributions. It seems the experts chose to save their best ideas for their own individual works. I enjoyed Umberto Eco, who always entertains doubts, Chomsky, Galbraith, Singer, Zizek and Dawkins. I found Achebe, Dworkin (particularly annoying), and Amartya sen to be repeating the same politically correct diatribes as always and lacking in real depth. The book is valuable, however, as a guide to seeking further understanding the ideas of the contributors. It provides bibliographies and biographies for each thinker. However, I suggest you look this up as brief refernce and then go out and buy the books from the thinkers you like.

Useful for the References
As with other reviewers, I agree that the format of this book results in many of the Great Minds coming across as dull and boring. However, if you treat the book as an introduction to the various authors, then you can use it to gain a list of references to books written by those Great Minds - and I assure you that most of them are far from banal. ... Read more

Book Description

This book gives a global picture of the current state of identification, from the reasons for mathematical modelling, through the theoretical underpinning, to details of a wide range of well-tried identification algorithms and their application.The limitations of present techniques and the practical constraints on their use are explored and illustrated by numerical examples.Introductions to areas of current research are included in a chapter on specialised topics. ... Read more

Book Description

A supplementary workbook that will include 3 complex case studies, each requiring the use of System Architect to complete; author is versed in the use of System Architect (he wrote the tutorial for the student edition of the tool which is packaged with Whitten 3rd ed.). This is not a stand-alone item, it is a supplement to accompany Whitten or any other SA&D text where the System Architect CASE Tool is being utilized. ... Read more

Book Description

  These AIP Conference Proceedings contain the papers of the two invited speakers: "Systems with Emergent Dynamics" by Ian Stewart (UK), who received the CHAOS AWARD, and "The Role of Anticipation in Intelligent Systems" by George J. Klir (USA), who received the CASYS'01 AWARD. Second, all the papers of the authors who received a Best Paper Award, and, third, a selection of invited papers. The scope is the study, research, and development in the new frontier of science dealing with the paradigm of computing anticipatory systems. A computing anticipatory system is a system which computes its current states in taking into account its anticipatory states. Strong anticipation refers to an anticipation of events built by or embedded in a system. Weak anticipation refers to an anticipation of events predicted or forecast from a model of a system. Topics include Anticipatory Systems, Cybernetics and Epistemology; Mathematical System, Chaos, Anticipation and Incursion; Relativity, Quantum Physics and Quantum Computing; Intelligent Agents, Learning and Cognitive Systems; Organisation, Regulation, Management and Planning; Control Systems, Robots, Neural Nets and Agents; and Information Science Models and Anticipatory Programs. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A new kind of science...
I have read many of papers contained in the three CASYS conference proceedings and have been quite impressed with the direction anticipatory systems research is heading.Anticipatory systems research is derived from Robert Rosen's seminal works "Anticipatory Systems", "Life Itself" and "Essays on Life Itself"; these were basically ignored (much like Rashevsky's work prior to Rosen) but slowly its value is being realized.

Anticipatory systems acknowledge that real processes, particularly life, do not obey causal laws required by our present 'religion' of reductionism.This can be seen in all aspects of science whether one looks at attempts at cybernetics, algorithmic information theory, physics or biology (to name a few).We have consistently run up against the same roadblocks to progress since our present way of thinking excludes the possibility of ever answering some very basic questions.

There is a lot of interest here from Dubois' works in hyperinclusion (although I do not agree with his interpretation of Rosen) to Ekdahl's excellent research on the link between induction and anticipatory systems.Nadin's work is quite good for someone just beginning to get interested in this area.Many aspects of science that are complete mysteries now begin to make much more sense whether it is the Feynman-Wheeler theories of QED, understanding Shnoll's results or learning theories in general when one sees that the problem is our clinging to linear causality.

It is quite interesting to contrast this to Wolfram's pinnacle of ironic science, "A New Kind of Science" - he has no 'new' science, just more of the old stuff.Unfortunately his money has helped him generate lots of hype about fluff when there is much more exciting and genuinely new work being done as it has in the past:quietly and thoughtfully. ... Read more