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by oriel 699 days ago
This has been a topic of interest for me for almost a decade so far.

See also: non-linear dynamics, dynamical systems

The study of Complexity in the US Sciences is fairly recent, with the notable kickoff of the Santa Fe Institute [1]. They have all the resources there, from classes to scientific conferences.

A few book recommendations I've picked up over the years:

- Lewin, Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos [2] (recommended for a gentle introduction with history)

- Gleick, Chaos: Making a New Science [3]

- Holland, Emergence: From Chaos To Order [4]

- Holland, Signals and Boundaries: Building Blocks for Complex Adaptive Systems [5]

- Holland, Hidden Order: How Adaptation Builds Complexity [6] (unread but part of the series)

- Miller, Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life [7]

- Strogatz, Nonlinear Dynamics And Chaos: With Applications To Physics, Biology, Chemistry, And Engineering [11] (edit: forgot i had this on my desk)

Also a shoutout to Stephen Wolfram, reading one of his articles [8] about underlying structures while stuck at an airport proved to be a pivotal moment in my life.

- Wolfram's New Kind of Science, as an exploration of simple rules computed to the point of complex behavior. [9]

- Wolfram's Physics Project, a later iteration on NKS ideas with some significant and thorough publication of work. [10]

Links:

[1] https://www.santafe.edu/

[2] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0226476553

[3] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143113453

[4] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0738201421

[5] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262525933

[6] https://www.amazon.com/Hidden-Order-Adaptation-Builds-Comple...

[7] https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0691127026

[8] https://writings.stephenwolfram.com/2015/12/what-is-spacetim...

[9] https://www.wolframscience.com/nks/

[10] https://wolframphysics.org/

[11] https://www.amazon.com/Nonlinear-Dynamics-Chaos-Applications...

3 comments

About 30 years for me. As my username might suggest.

To this already excellent list I would add that the Santa Fe Institute (mentioned above) is continually putting out new work and papers on this topic.

Examples here: https://www.santafe.edu/research/results/books

Complex, nonlinear - possibly adaptive - systems with or without convergence but emergence, and structure!

Convergence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convergence > STEM

Emergence: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergence

Stability: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stability

Stability theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stability_theory

Glossary of systems theory: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_systems_theory

Thanks for posting these resources.

I've been meaning to look more deeply into the field. I read a popular science book on it in the past and always desired to ascertain a more formal understanding.

I never understood why so many hate "New Kind of Science"... Just ordered it and will form my own opinion.