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Complexity - A Philosophical Overview (Paperback)
Loot Price: R1,292
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Complexity - A Philosophical Overview (Paperback)
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Our world is enormously sophisticated and nature's complexity is
literally inexhaustible. As a result, projects to describe and
explain natural science can never be completed. This volume
explores the nature of complexity and considers its bearing on our
world and how we manage our affairs within it. Rescher's overall
lesson is that the management of our affairs within a socially,
technologically, and cognitively complex environment is plagued
with vast management problems and risks of mishap. In primitive
societies, failure to understand how things work can endanger a
family or, at worst, a clan or tribe. In the modern world, man-made
catastrophes on the model of Chernobyl can endanger millions,
possibly even risking the totality of human life on our planet.
Rescher explains "technological escalation" as a sort of arms race
against nature in which scientific progress requires more powerful
technology for observation and experimentation, and, conversely,
scientific progress requires the continual enhancement of
technology. The increasing complexity of science and technology
(and, in consequence, of social systems) along with problems
growing faster than solutions confront us with major management and
decision problems. This study is the first of its kind. There have
been many specialized studies of complexity in physics and
computation theory, but no overall analysis of the phenomenon.
Although Rescher offers a sobering outlook, he also believes that
complexity entails mixed blessings: our imperfect knowledge
provides a rationale for putting forth our best efforts. Rescher
urges us to gear the conduct of life's practical affairs to the
demands of a complex world. This highly readable and accessible
volume will be of interest to those interested in philosophy, the
philosophy of science, science policy studies, and future studies.
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