Discovering Complexity

Discovering Complexity PDF Author: William Bechtel
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262514737
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 341

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Book Description
An analysis of two heuristic strategies for the development of mechanistic models, illustrated with historical examples from the life sciences. In Discovering Complexity, William Bechtel and Robert Richardson examine two heuristics that guided the development of mechanistic models in the life sciences: decomposition and localization. Drawing on historical cases from disciplines including cell biology, cognitive neuroscience, and genetics, they identify a number of "choice points" that life scientists confront in developing mechanistic explanations and show how different choices result in divergent explanatory models. Describing decomposition as the attempt to differentiate functional and structural components of a system and localization as the assignment of responsibility for specific functions to specific structures, Bechtel and Richardson examine the usefulness of these heuristics as well as their fallibility—the sometimes false assumption underlying them that nature is significantly decomposable and hierarchically organized. When Discovering Complexity was originally published in 1993, few philosophers of science perceived the centrality of seeking mechanisms to explain phenomena in biology, relying instead on the model of nomological explanation advanced by the logical positivists (a model Bechtel and Richardson found to be utterly inapplicable to the examples from the life sciences in their study). Since then, mechanism and mechanistic explanation have become widely discussed. In a substantive new introduction to this MIT Press edition of their book, Bechtel and Richardson examine both philosophical and scientific developments in research on mechanistic models since 1993.

Discovering Complexity

Discovering Complexity PDF Author: William Bechtel
Publisher: MIT Press
ISBN: 0262514737
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 341

Get Book

Book Description
An analysis of two heuristic strategies for the development of mechanistic models, illustrated with historical examples from the life sciences. In Discovering Complexity, William Bechtel and Robert Richardson examine two heuristics that guided the development of mechanistic models in the life sciences: decomposition and localization. Drawing on historical cases from disciplines including cell biology, cognitive neuroscience, and genetics, they identify a number of "choice points" that life scientists confront in developing mechanistic explanations and show how different choices result in divergent explanatory models. Describing decomposition as the attempt to differentiate functional and structural components of a system and localization as the assignment of responsibility for specific functions to specific structures, Bechtel and Richardson examine the usefulness of these heuristics as well as their fallibility—the sometimes false assumption underlying them that nature is significantly decomposable and hierarchically organized. When Discovering Complexity was originally published in 1993, few philosophers of science perceived the centrality of seeking mechanisms to explain phenomena in biology, relying instead on the model of nomological explanation advanced by the logical positivists (a model Bechtel and Richardson found to be utterly inapplicable to the examples from the life sciences in their study). Since then, mechanism and mechanistic explanation have become widely discussed. In a substantive new introduction to this MIT Press edition of their book, Bechtel and Richardson examine both philosophical and scientific developments in research on mechanistic models since 1993.

Think Complexity

Think Complexity PDF Author: Allen Downey
Publisher: "O'Reilly Media, Inc."
ISBN: 1449314635
Category : Computers
Languages : en
Pages : 159

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Book Description
Dive into Python's advanced possibilities, including algorithm analysis, graphs, scale-free networks, and cellular automata with this in-depth, hands-on guide.

Exploring Complexity

Exploring Complexity PDF Author: G. Nicolis
Publisher: W H Freeman & Company
ISBN: 9780716718598
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 313

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Book Description
Unexpected discoveries in nonequilibrium physics and nonlinear dynamics are changing our understanding of complex phenomena. Recent research has revealed fundamental new properties of matter in far-from-equilibrium conditions, and the prevalence of instability-where small changes in initial conditions may lead to amplified effects.

Exploring Complexity in Health: An Interdisciplinary Systems Approach

Exploring Complexity in Health: An Interdisciplinary Systems Approach PDF Author: A. Hoerbst
Publisher: IOS Press
ISBN: 1614996784
Category : HEALTH & FITNESS
Languages : en
Pages : 852

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Book Description
The field of health is an increasingly complex and technical one; and an area in which a more multidisciplinary approach would undoubtedly be beneficial in many ways. This book presents papers from the conference ‘Health – Exploring Complexity: An Interdisciplinary Systems Approach’, held in Munich, Germany, from August 28th to September 2nd 2016. This joint conference unites the conferences of the German Association for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology (GMDS), the German Society for Epidemiology (DGEpi), the International Epidemiological Association - European Region, and the European Federation for Medical Informatics (EFMI). These societies already have long-standing experience of integrating the disciplines of medical informatics, biometry, epidemiology and health data management. The book contains over 160 papers, and is divided into 14 sections covering subject areas such as: health and clinical information systems; eHealth and telemedicine; big data and advanced analytics; and evidence-based health informatics, evaluation and education, among many others. The book will be of value to all those working in the field of health and interested in finding new ways to enable the collaboration of different scientific disciplines and the establishment of comprehensive methodological approaches.

Decoding Complexity

Decoding Complexity PDF Author: james glattfelder
Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media
ISBN: 3642334245
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 235

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Book Description
Today it appears that we understand more about the universe than about our interconnected socio-economic world. In order to uncover organizational structures and novel features in these systems, we present the first comprehensive complex systems analysis of real-world ownership networks. This effort lies at the interface between the realms of economics and the emerging field loosely referred to as complexity science. The structure of global economic power is reflected in the network of ownership ties of companies and the analysis of such ownership networks has possible implications for market competition and financial stability. Thus this work presents powerful new tools for the study of economic and corporate networks that are only just beginning to attract the attention of scholars.

Discovering Complexity

Discovering Complexity PDF Author: William Bechtel
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780608025971
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 300

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Book Description


Knowledge Discovery and Emergent Complexity in Bioinformatics

Knowledge Discovery and Emergent Complexity in Bioinformatics PDF Author: Karl Tuyls
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 354071037X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 191

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Book Description
This book constitutes the thoroughly refereed post-proceedings of the First International Workshop on Knowledge Discovery and Emergent Complexity in Bioinformatics, KDECB 2006, held in Ghent, Belgium, in May 2006, in connection with the 15th Belgium-Netherlands Conference on Machine Learning. The 12 revised full papers cover various topics in the areas of knowledge discovery and emergent complexity research in bioinformatics.

Exploring the Complexity of Projects

Exploring the Complexity of Projects PDF Author: Svetlana Cicmil
Publisher: Project Management Institute
ISBN: 1628251298
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 91

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Book Description
Exploring the Complexity of Projects: Implications of Complexity Theory for Project Management Practice explores the process and findings of the implications of the complexity theory for project management theory and practice. The golden triangle (project deadline, budget and output) makes the standard definition of project management processes, skills and knowledge paradoxical and divorced from practice. This monograph contains research of management processes and capabilities in innovative project settings and highlights the challenges in contemporary project management practice. This research suggests that in order to define and conceptualize project complexity, the building blocks of project must be more properly defined. These include:• Individual and group relationships• Individual and group cohesion• Definition of key performance indicators• Sources of project failureIn practical terms, this research aims to propose and encourage a critical but constructive way of explaining, debating, and deliberating project management and project performance issues that can lead to a wider awareness, knowledge, and development of skills and competencies that match the complexity of projects as experienced by practitioners in contemporary organizations.In Exploring the Complexity of Projects: Implications of Complexity Theory for Project Management Practice, project managers will find the realities of project management and the strategies to incorporate the complexity of a project into the original scope.

Knowledge Management, Organizational Intelligence And Learning, And Complexity - Volume II

Knowledge Management, Organizational Intelligence And Learning, And Complexity - Volume II PDF Author: L. Douglas Kiel
Publisher: EOLSS Publications
ISBN: 190583912X
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 296

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Book Description
Knowledge Management, Organizational Intelligence and Learning, and Complexity is the component of Encyclopedia of Technology, Information, and Systems Management Resources in the global Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), which is an integrated compendium of twenty one Encyclopedias. The Theme on Knowledge Management, Organizational Intelligence and Learning, and Complexity in the Encyclopedia of Technology, Information, and Systems Management Resources provides the latest scientific insights into the evolution of complexity in both the natural and social realms. Emerging perspectives from the fields of knowledge management, computer-based simulation and the organizational sciences are presented as tools for understanding and supporting this evolving complexity and the earth's life support systems. These three volumes are aimed at the following a wide spectrum of audiences from the merely curious to those seeking in-depth knowledge: University and College students Educators, Professional practitioners, Research personnel and Policy analysts, managers, and decision makers and NGOs.

The SAGE Handbook of Complexity and Management

The SAGE Handbook of Complexity and Management PDF Author: Peter Allen
Publisher: SAGE
ISBN: 1446209741
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 665

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Book Description
The SAGE Handbook of Complexity and Management is the first substantive scholarly work to provide a map of the state of art research in the growing field emerging at the intersection of complexity science and management studies. Edited and written by internationally respected scholars from management and related disciplines, the Handbook will be the definitive reference source for understanding the implications of complexity science for management research and practice. Part One: Foundations introduces complexity science and its implications for the foundations of scientific knowledge, including management knowledge. Part Two: Applications presents the numerous ways in which complexity science models and tools, as well as complexity thinking, are being applied to management and organizational phenomena and the insights gained as a result. Part Three: Interfaces highlights how complexity science is transforming various non-management fields and, in so doing, creating exciting interfaces for bridging between management and related disciplines.