The problem is not that there are too few or too many formal treatments of complexity. IMHO formal treatments of "complexity", "self-organization" or "emergence" are not a solution. The lack of formal treatments is not a problem, it indicates that these terms are buzzwords. Buzzwords have their assets and drawbacks, they are powerful tools to get funding, to write successful project proposals, to get things published, to capture attention, to impress people, etc., but they should be treated with care (because they might lead to mathematical quagmire, confusion, misunderstandings, illusions, contradictions, schisms in communities, etc.) http://www.vs.uni-kassel.de/systems/index.php/Buzzword
-J. -----Original Message----- From: Carlos Gershenson Sent: Monday, July 24, 2006 5:56 PM To: The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Dynamics of Complex Systems by Yaneer Bar-Yam The problem is that there are too many formal treatments of complexity... ============================================================ 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
