The Emergence of Complexity in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology

by Pullman, Bernard; Pontificia Accademia Delle Scienze

• ISBN13: 9780691012384
• ISBN10: 0691012385
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1997-08-01
• Publisher: Princeton Univ Pr

Summary

Complexity studies, though still in their infancy, are controversial. By viewing different systems--whether those in biological, physical, or even social sciences--as a series of interacting "agents," researchers involved in complexity explore a rich and diverse set of phenomena such as self-organization and adaptation. They use these phenomena to model and explain such things as the formation of cities, the behavior of the stock market, and the origin of life.In this volume, some of the world's leading scientists discuss the role of complexity across all the scientific disciplines. Opinions differ: for some, complexity holds the key to a deeper and fuller understanding of the world about us; to others, it is merely a modern version of the philosophers' stone. For the reader, it provides glimpses and insight into arguably the most exciting approach to science currently available.

Table of Contents

Preface	XI	(6)
par BERNARD PULLMAN
Pontifical Academicians present at the Session	XVII
DAY ONE - 27 OCTOBER 1992	3	(94)
Opening Remarks	3	(4)
G. V. COYNE
N. DALLAPORTA
Commemoration of recently deceased Pontifical Academicians	7	(1)
OTTO CREUTZFELDT	7	(1)
J. C. ECCLES
GEORGE SPERI SPERTI	8	(3)
G. V. COYNE
Presentation of the new members	11	(1)
G. V. COYNE
Acknowledgement speech	11	(3)
BERNARDO MARIA COLOMBO
Acknowledgement speech	14	(2)
GEORGES M. M. COTTIER
Acknowledgement speech	16	(1)
MINURO ODA
Acknowledgement speech	17	(3)
WOLF J. SINGER
Acknowledgement speech	20	(3)
RICHARD SOUTHWOOD
Pius XI Gold Medal Award	23	(2)
Scientific Papers	25	(72)
ENRICO BERTI
Ordre et desordre des Grecs a Galilee et de Galilee aux temps modernes	25	(18)
RENE THOM
L'Emergence des Structures	43	(22)
LASZLO LOVASZ
Information and Complexity: how to measure them	65	(16)
ADI SHAMIR
Information, Complexity, and Cryptography	81	(9)
Discussion	90	(7)
DAY TWO - 28 OCTOBER 1992	97	(154)
W. THIRRING
The Emergence of Order and Complexity in Physics	97	(6)
P. H. RICHTER
Harmony and Complexity: Order and Chaos in Mechanical Systems	103	(21)
Discussion	124	(5)
F. T. ARECCHI
Complexity in Science: Models and Metaphors	129	(32)
C. N. R. Rao
Aspects of Order and Disorder in Complex Solids	161	(16)
M. MOSHINSKY
Relativistic Complexity in Physics	177	(10)
Discussion	187	(40)
M. HELLER
The Non-Linear Universe: Creative Processes in the Universe	191	(19)
Discussion	210	(7)
M. J. REES
The Epoch of Galaxy Formation	217	(9)
Discussion	226	(9)
J. L. LIONS
Why is the Earth's environment so stable?	235	(16)
DAY THREE - 29 OCTOBER 1992	251	(76)
P. H. RAVEN
Biological Complexity	251	(15)
Discussion	266	(11)
G. DEL RE
Organization, Information, Autopoiesis: from Molecules to Life	277	(17)
Discussion	294	(13)
G. GERACI
Chemical Aspects of Evolution	307	(10)
Discussion	317	(10)
DAY FOUR - 30 OCTOBER 1992	327	(118)
R. CHAUVIN
Les theories reductionnistes en biologie	327	(8)
Discussion	335	(4)
J. SEIFERT
On the irreducibility of life to chaotic and non-chaotic physical systems	339	(20)
Discussion	359	(10)
J. C. ECCLES
Evolution of Complexity of the Brain with the Emergence of Consciousness	369	(19)
Discussion	388	(5)
B. NICOLESCU
Levels of Complexity and Levels of Reality: Nature as Trans-Nature	393	(18)
Discussion	411	(8)
M. SELA
First General Commentary	419	(4)
S. L. JAKI
Second General Commentary	423	(10)
J. LEJEUNE
Resume (Summary and General Synthesis)	433	(12)
DAY FIVE - 31 OCTOBER 1992	445
Solemn Papal Audience	445	(2)
Address of the Acting President Father G. V. COYNE, SJ	447	(2)
Discours de M. le Cardinal PAUL POUPARD	449	(6)
Allocution de SA SAINTETE JEAN-PAUL II	455	(10)
English translation of the Papal Allocution	465