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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