future of complexity theory

[Paul Paryski]

Following our FRIAM discussion this morning, I would like to suggest that  
there might be two foci for the future of complexity theory (CT):
-refining CT and creating a more formal, yet user friendly, framework or  
tool;
-using CT to promote progressive social and political change (as Owen said  
it is difficult to believe that Americans are so ill-informed to vote for the  
Bush gang a second time).
 
If this seems too simplistic, please excuse me, since I am a newcomer to CT  
and certainly not a programmer and as I get older only have opinions, not
ideas.  Does anybody have any ideas,  oracle Nick included?
 
cheers Paul



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[Russell Standish]

There are many, many unsolved problems in Complexity theory. Take a
look at Bedau  et al., Open problems in artificial life,  Artificial
Life   6 (2000) for just some that relate to the subfield of
Artificial Life.

I am sceptical that complexity theory will ever successfully be used
to effect politcal change. Call me a cynic if you like, but complexity
theory, chaos theory and before that catastrophe theory were used to
bash opponents about the head with clever sounding theoretical
constructs that in reality had little connection to the subject.

CT will probably have greater impact in biological sciences, in
evolution or ecology studies, and perhaps in economics. Even there,
though, cultural factors will limit the impact.

Cheers

On Fri, May 25, 2007 at 04:45:43PM -0400, PPARYSKI at aol.com wrote:

> Following our FRIAM discussion this morning, I would like to suggest that  
> there might be two foci for the future of complexity theory (CT):
> -refining CT and creating a more formal, yet user friendly, framework or  
> tool;
> -using CT to promote progressive social and political change (as Owen said  
> it is difficult to believe that Americans are so ill-informed to vote for the  
> Bush gang a second time).
>  
> If this seems too simplistic, please excuse me, since I am a newcomer to CT  
> and certainly not a programmer and as I get older only have opinions, not
> ideas.  Does anybody have any ideas,  oracle Nick included?
>  
> cheers Paul
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.

> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org

--

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A/Prof Russell Standish                  Phone [phone] (mobile)
Mathematics                        
UNSW SYDNEY 2052                 hpcoder at hpcoders.com.au
Australia                                http://www.hpcoders.com.au
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Phil Henshaw-2]

With regard to 'CT' itself, as a discipline and family of theoretical
issues, I have to claim to be largely an 'outsider'.  I tend to think
it's one of the the 57 varieties of reasonably well explored theories
that since the 40's have developed to try to deal with the complexity of
natural systems and events.  My little contribution in the end may be
only that what you have with a growth system is the need to figure out
how to turn it off... but a whole lot of the things I saw this week at
NetSci will have huge material effects, and I think not far off.  My
suspicion is that the 57 varieties will converge, with pieces being
discarded and pieces kept, of each, based on the extremely useful
imaging of some of the real (projected) structures found inside real
complex evolving systems now being produced.


Phil Henshaw                       ????.?? ? `?.????
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
680 Ft. Washington Ave
NY NY 10040                      
tel: [phone]                
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: friam-bounces at redfish.com
> [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com] On Behalf Of Russell Standish
> Sent: Saturday, May 26, 2007 5:36 PM
> To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> Subject: Re: [FRIAM] future of complexity theory
>
>
> There are many, many unsolved problems in Complexity theory.
> Take a look at Bedau  et al., Open problems in artificial
> life,  Artificial
> Life   6 (2000) for just some that relate to the subfield of
> Artificial Life.
>
> I am sceptical that complexity theory will ever successfully
> be used to effect politcal change. Call me a cynic if you
> like, but complexity theory, chaos theory and before that
> catastrophe theory were used to bash opponents about the head
> with clever sounding theoretical constructs that in reality
> had little connection to the subject.
>
> CT will probably have greater impact in biological sciences,
> in evolution or ecology studies, and perhaps in economics.
> Even there, though, cultural factors will limit the impact.
>
> Cheers
>
> On Fri, May 25, 2007 at 04:45:43PM -0400, PPARYSKI at aol.com wrote:
> > Following our FRIAM discussion this morning, I would like
> to suggest
> > that
> > there might be two foci for the future of complexity theory (CT):
> > -refining CT and creating a more formal, yet user friendly,
> framework or  
> > tool;
> > -using CT to promote progressive social and political
> change (as Owen said  
> > it is difficult to believe that Americans are so
> ill-informed to vote for the  
> > Bush gang a second time).
> >  
> > If this seems too simplistic, please excuse me, since I am
> a newcomer
> > to CT
> > and certainly not a programmer and as I get older only have
> opinions, not
> > ideas.  Does anybody have any ideas,  oracle Nick included?
> >  
> > cheers Paul
> >
> >
> >
> > ************************************** See what's free at
> > http://www.aol.com.
>
> > ============================================================
> > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures,
> > archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
>
> --
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
> A/Prof Russell Standish                  Phone [phone] (mobile)
> Mathematics                        
> UNSW SYDNEY 2052                 hpcoder at hpcoders.com.au
> Australia                                http://www.hpcoders.com.au
> --------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
>
>