Topic 15 Chaos & Complexity theories

Question 1

Chaos Theory

Answer 1

The study of complex nonlinear systems of social complexity.

The qualitative non-periodic and unstable study in behavior in deterministic dynamical nonlinear systems.

Question 2

Dynamic systems

Answer 2

Systems that are constantly changing

Question 3

Characteristics of the chaotic system

Answer 3

> Determinist: Is ruled by a mathematical equation to determine its behavior.
Sensitive to initial conditions: Even a slight change at the beginning can give different results.
Not random: Chaos has an order and a pattern.

Question 4

Chaos important concepts

Answer 4

> Butterfly effect
Attractor
Strange attractor

Question 5

Butterfly effect

Answer 5

The slightest change in the starting point can lead to a very different result.

Question 6

Attractor

Answer 6

Balance inside the system. It represents a state in which a system eventually stabilizes.

Question 7

Strange attractor

Answer 7

A dynamic type of balance that represents a kind of path over which a system changes from one situation to another without having to settle.

Question 8

Three components of chaos and complexity

Answer 8

Nonlinearity as mathematical description
Realism as an ontological principle
‘Evolutionary’, meaning that we are dealing with processes which are fundamentally historical and they are not time reversible

Question 9

Complexity theory

Answer 9

Developed from chaos theory and represents the body of research on systems about the systems that have complex characteristics

Question 10

Main representatives of Complexity

Answer 10

Stuart Kauffman
Murray Gell-Mann
Phillip Anderson

Question 11

Terms used in complexity theory

Answer 11

Size: Is an indication of the difficulty one might have in order to deal with a system. The greater the system, the greater the complexity.
Ignorance: Talks to us of lack of knowledge there is about the system. A system is complex when you know nothing of it.
Variety: Related to the different nature of the parts of a system.

Question 12

Characteristics of a complex system

Answer 12

Great number of individual elements
Persistent movement
System adjusts to new situations to ensure the survival
Self-management
Local regulations to apply to each agent
Progression in complexity

Question 13

Main influence in Chaos Theory

Answer 13

Edward Norton Lorenz