Complexity Explained (PDF)
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...
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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. You will learn the basic concepts and methods of complex system research. It is shown that very different complex phenomena of nature and society can be analyzed and understood by nonlinear dynamics since many systems of very different fields, such as physics, chemistry, biology, economics, psychology and sociology etc. have similar architecture. "Complexity Explained" is not highly technical and mathematical, but teaches and uses the basic mathematical notions of dynamical system theory making the book useful for students of science majors and graduate courses, but it should be readable for a more general audience; actually for those, who ask: What complex systems really are?
- Autor: Peter Erdi
- 2007, 2008, 397 Seiten, Englisch
- Verlag: Springer-Verlag GmbH
- ISBN-10: 3540357785
- ISBN-13: 9783540357780
- Erscheinungsdatum: 09.11.2007
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- Dateiformat: PDF
- Größe: 6.03 MB
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By Karl Friston FRS, University College London
This is a charming and engaging book. It treats the reader with perspectives on complexity from nearly all possible angles. This rounded approach works extremely well and highlights the connections between different formulations of complexity, both in terms of their application and historical development. The book is clearly written by someone who delights in the challenges posed by complexity research and has spent a lot of time teaching in this area. The book is written in an intuitive and accessible way; although there are mathematical expositions, they are not intimidating for the non-mathematical reader.
The book is organised in a clear and purposeful way; as if it was based on a mature series of lectures. It stars from the historical fundaments of complexity theory and ends with cutting-edge research into things like evolutionary game theory. The writing style is endearingly idiosyncratic; disclosing the author’s Hungarian background. Peter Erdi’s ethnic and intellectual roots show themselves through the balanced references to Eastern block and Western contributions, through his Hungarian anecdotes and metaphors, through his syntax and finally through his humour. There are several nice examples of the latter; his preference for the term "player" over "agent" is not left implicit. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether something has been lost or gained in translation, for example I had assumed that "out of ouch" meant "out of touch". However, the context in which this phrase was used (the resolution of unrequited love) made me think twice. In short, the book had great substance and made me smile a lot.
The book is organised into ten chapters; the first three deal with the history of complex systems and theory. I found these chapters very illuminating. They gather together names and concepts
I am not sure whether this book ‘explains’ complexity. It certainly explains the genesis of the complexity sciences with a compelling and useful focus on the history of these ideas and the rhetoric needed to articulate them. This is a very worthwhile read for any student considering an academic career in complexity or, senior scientists who want to place their corner of enquiry in a larger context. On finishing the book, I wondered whether a better title would have been "Complexity Celebrated".
From the reviews:
"In Complexity Explained, Érdi (Kalamazoo College) traces in great detail the path that complexity theory followed from classical mathematics onward. … The list of references is extensive and may be useful for researchers. Summing Up … Researchers/faculty." (J. A. van Reenen, CHOICE, Vol. 45 (11), July, 2008)
"Érdi covers such a great deal of important data on complexity that a shorter review cannot do justice to this excellent book … . The 581 References are one indication of his inclusive broad coverage. … graduate students, researchers and teachers in any of the numerous sciences, technologies and humanities, as well as the general educated public are addressed. … Any researcher planning to write a book ought to copy Érdi’s styles: the English is superbly conversational, clear, uncomplicated and logically compressed … ." (Karl H. Wolf, International Journal of General Systems, 2008)
"This book has many advantages … . It is an excellent introduction to CS for specialists in many fields. … Summarizing, this is an excellent introduction to CS. I strongly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn CS seriously. At a more advance level, it should be followed by deeper books in individual fields e.g. CS in biology, CS in social sciences etc… I thank the author for this enjoyable and useful book." (E. Ahmed, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1162, 2009)
“This book is written for anyone interested in the meaning of complexity. … the book uses mathematical notions of dynamical systems theory to show that very different complex phenomena of nature and society can be analyzed and understood by nonlinear dynamics.” (IEEE Control Systems Magazine, Vol. 29, October, 2009)
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