formalization of Complexity (was Dynamics of Complex Systems by Yaneer Bar-Yam)

Posted by Robert Holmes on
URL: http://friam.383.s1.nabble.com/Dynamics-of-Complex-Systems-by-Yaneer-Bar-Yam-tp522166p522217.html

Models such as Schellings segregation and Axtel and Epsteins artificial
societies typically take place on some bounded checker board through which
nothing flows. By the defintion below are these therefore not complex
systems?

Robert

On 7/21/06, Stephen Guerin <stephen.guerin at redfish.com> wrote:

>
>
> >  Yet when I ask for a formal treatment, I get no answer.
>
> I very much like Hubler's deceptively simple definition of complexity:
>         "A complex systems is a system with large throughput of Energy,
> Information, Force, .... through a well designed boundary."
>
> His notes from the SFI CSSS school with this definition are here:
> http://www.how-why.com/ucs2002/tutorial/
>
>
> As a restatement of the same ideas that formalizes what "large" means, I
> would
> offer:
>         "complexity emerges when a gradient acting on a system exceeds the
> capacity of the internal degrees of freedom of the system to dissipate the
> gradient".
>
>
> Is that formal enough? or, does the statement need to be mathematized?
>
> -Steve
>
> ________________________________________
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