Complexity and Emergence
Meeting 2
In last class we found the answer to the arrow of time lay in the macroscopic phenomenon of entropy, the tendency for all systems left to themselves to move to less ordered states. A small box of air molecules released in a larger empty box will tend to spread out, filling the new box uniformly. While this process illustrates entropy growth, the system moves from a state of low complexity to one of higher complexity until the expansion is finished, somewhat surprisingly, in a state of lower complexity again, though higher entropy.
In sufficiently complex systems, especially what are called complex adaptive systems (CAS) leads to emergent behaviors that frustrate explanation in terms of the behavior of lower-level constituents. There are many examples of emergent properties ranging from beautiful 6-fold symmetry of a snow flake that bears no resemblance its constituent water molecules, to flocking patterns of birds, to pricing mechanisms in a capitalist society, and ultimately to life itself. A nice introductory video is available here with lots of examples that will prepare you for this part of the class.
In the second part of this class, we will begin discussion of the human mind and the nature of consciousness, which will be fully developed in the following class It’s All in Your Mind.
