Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos - Hardcover

Lewin, Roger

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0025704850 ISBN 13: 9780025704855

Publisher: Macmillan USA, 1992

Synopsis

Introduces the pioneers of complexity theory--from Heinz Pagels to Brian Arthur--examines the theory's components, and explains its value in the effort to achieve a unification of the life sciences. By the author of Bones of Contention.

About this title

Synopsis

Complexity, in Roger Lewin's view, will be the dominant scientific trend of the 1990s, as scientists from many disciplines come together and begin to discover the underlying similarities in their fields. Briefly, complexity theory - which encompasses chaos - holds that at the root of all complex systems lies a few simple rules. It takes the notion of chaos (which states that within seemingly chaotic systems are elements of order) a step further by actually identifying these rules. For example - the rules which govern the behaviour of molecules will parallel those which guide human behaviour. The goal of complexity theory is "a grand unification of the life sciences".

The book focuses on the pioneers in the field of chaos theory, and their struggles to gain acceptance, beginning with Heinz Pagels (an early prophet of the movement), Edward Fredkin and John Wolfram (who worked with cellular automata at the University of Illinois' Centre for Complex Systems), Danny Hillis (a computer magician who introduced complexity to the marketplace), Manfred Eigen of the Max Planck Institute, biochemist Stuart Kaufman (who applied mathematical rules to the theory of natural selection), Harvard behavioural biologist Irven Devore and Brian Arthur (who linked physics and math to economics) and others. Roger Lewin has also written "Bones of Contention", "Origins", " People of the Lake", "Darwin's Forgotten World", "In the Age of Mankind" and "Origins Reconsidered".

About the Author

Roger Lewin is a prize-winning author and wrote the acclaimed Complexity: Life at the Edge of Chaos; recipient of the inaugural Lewis Thomas Award for excellence in the communication of life sciences; and the 1992 Award for contribution to issues in conservation by the Society of Conservation Biology. Between 1990 and 1993, he was a visiting professor in biology at Wayne State University, and an associate of the Peabody Museum, Harvard University from 1993 to 1998. He speaks frequently around the world at conferences on complexity science and business.

Edition details

• Publisher: Macmillan USA
• Publication date: 1992
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0025704850
• ISBN 13: 9780025704855
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 218