The theory of nonlinear, complex systems has become by now a proven
problem-solving approach in the natural sciences. And it is now
also recognized that many if not most of our social, ecological,
economical and political problems are essentially of a global,
complex and nonlinear nature. And it is now further accepted than
any holistic perspective of the human mind and brain can hardly be
achieved by any other approach. In this wide-ranging, scholarly but
very concise treatment, physicist, computer scientist and
philosopher Klaus Mainzer discusses, in essentially nontechnical
language, the common framework behind these ideas and challenges.
Emphasis is given to the evolution of new structures in natural and
cultural systems and we are lead to see clearly how the new
integrative approach can give insights not available from
traditional reductionistic methods. The fifth edition enlarges and
revises almost all sections and supplements an entirely new chapter
on the complexity of economic systems.
From the reviews of the fourth edition:
"This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite with 22 pages of
references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully written and
illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the
science of complexity. Even beginners and young graduate students
will have something to learn from this book." (Andre Hautot,
Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)
"All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful
resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous
formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH, vol. 1046,
2004)
"Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer's exposition, which is
based on a tight coupling between classical andhistorical concepts
from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical
developments . Every chapter begins with a section designed to
orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments
through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. The author takes
pains to point out essential differences between classical science
and the science of complexity. Thinking in Complexity is an
outstandingly readable book." (Anutosh Moitra, The Industrial
Physicist, August/September, 2004)
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