How Nature Works: The Science of Self-organized Criticality - Hardcover

Bak, Per

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0198501641 ISBN 13: 9780198501640

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1997

Synopsis

Can a theory of complex systems really explain how nature works? And what form would such a theory take? While many theories have been proposed to describe individual complex systems, self-organized criticality is the first general theory of complex systems with a firm mathematical foundation. This book, written by the discoverer of self-organized criticality, describes for the general reader a concept that has become increasingly important in science. Many seemingly disparate aspects of the world, from the formation of the landscape to the process of evolution to the action of nervous systems to the behaviour of the economy all share a set of simple, easily described properties. These are often described as emergent properties and Per Bak has devised the example of the sandpile to illustrate some of their key features, such as "avalanching". Bak argues that these properties are all so similar that they look to be manifestations of a single principle, a Newton's Law of complex behaviour. Further, he claims that self-organized criticality, the spontaneous development of systems to a critical state, is the key to such a principle. Looking at applications for both science and social science, the book offers a glimpse into the science of the future.

About this title

Review

..."written with panache. The style is brisk, the content stimulating. I recommend it as a bracing experience." - New Scientist
"This lively book, the title of which is admittedly provocative, is full of anecdotes about how science is being made and its style reflects the strong personality of its author." - Endeavour

About the Author

Per Bak is a professor in the Physics Department of Brookhaven National Laboratory. He has published over 150 papers, including articles in Scientific American and New Scientist.

Edition details

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Publication date: 1997
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0198501641
• ISBN 13: 9780198501640
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 225