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CT: Many of the concepts used within the complexity sciences derive originally from work done in the mid 20th Century on Cybernetics (Wiener), based on the earlier work on Information Theory (Shannon), and General Systems Theory (von Bertalanffy). These ideas were all attempts to quantify in a rigorous way the treatment of systems as an interdisciplinary science. In other words they were a break from the old views that specialist subjects required specialist ideas. Additionally cybernetics is concerned with the control of systems, the issues of regulation and stability that also face us in the treatment of complex systems. Most recent work on cybernetics has related to mechanical systems (e.g. robots and bionics), but these ideas have always been more general and here we shall restate their relevance to biological and social situations.
S: http://www.calresco.org/lucas/systems.htm (last access: 29 December 2014)
N: 1. complex (adj): 1650s, “composed of parts,” from French complexe “complicated, complex, intricate” (17c.), from Latin complexus “surrounding, encompassing,” past participle of complecti “to encircle, embrace,” in transferred use, “to hold fast, master, comprehend,” from com- “with” + plectere “to weave, braid, twine, entwine,” from PIE plek-to-, from root plek- “to plait”. The meaning “not easily analyzed” is first recorded 1715. Complex sentence is attested from 1881.
system (n): 1610s, “the whole creation, the universe,” from Late Latin systema “an arrangement, system,” from Greek systema “organized whole, a whole compounded of parts,” from stem of synistanai “to place together, organize, form in order,” from syn- “together” + root of histanai “cause to stand” from PIE root sta- “to stand” (see stet).
Meaning “set of correlated principles, facts, ideas, etc.” first recorded 1630s. Meaning “animal body as an organized whole, sum of the vital processes in an organism” is recorded from 1680s; hence figurative phrase to get (something) out of one’s system (1900). Computer sense of “group of related programs” is recorded from 1963. All systems go (1962) is from U.S. space program. The system “prevailing social order” is from 1806.
2. Complex Systems is a new field of science studying how parts of a system give rise to the collective behaviors of the system, and how the system interacts with its environment. Social systems formed (in part) out of people, the brain formed out of neurons, molecules formed out of atoms, the weather formed out of air flows are all examples of complex systems. The field of complex systems cuts across all traditional disciplines of science, as well as engineering, management, and medicine. It focuses on certain questions about parts, wholes and relationships. These questions are relevant to all traditional fields.
3. The study of complex systems is about understanding indirect effects. Problems that are difficult to solve are often hard to understand because the causes and effects are not obviously related. Pushing on a complex system “here” often has effects “over there” because the parts are interdependent. This has become more and more apparent in our efforts to solve societal problems or avoid ecological disasters caused by our own actions. The field of complex systems provides a number of sophisticated tools, some of them concepts that help us think about these systems, some of them analytical for studying these systems in greater depth, and some of them computer based for describing, modeling or simulating these systems.
4. In the field of Science Information > Documentation: A “system” that is composed of an interconnected set of “subsystems”.
Narrower term: cybernetic system. Opposite term: simple system.
S: 1. OED – http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?allowed_in_frame=0&search=complex+system&searchmode=none (last access: 29 December 2014). 2 & 3. http://necsi.edu/guide/ (last access: 29 December 2014). 4. GDT.
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CR: artificial intelligence, automatic control engineering, butterfly effect, computer science, cybernetics, robotics.
