Complexity and Postmodernism - Understanding Complex Systems (Hardcover)

This work explores the notion of complexity in the light of contemporary perspectives from philosophy and science. Paul Cilliers contributes to our general understanding of complex systems, and explores the implications of complexity theory for our understanding of biological and social systems. Postmodern theory is reinterpreted in order to argue that a postmodern perspective does not necessarily imply relativism, but that it could also be viewed as a manifestation of an inherent sensitivity to complexity. As Cilliers explains, the characterization of complexity revolves around analyses of the process of self-organization and a rejection of traditional notions of representation. The model of language developed by Saussure - and expanded by Derrida - is used to develop the notion of distributed representation, which in turn is linked with distributed modelling techniques. Connectionism (implemented in neural networks) serves as an example of these techniques. Cilliers points out that this approach to complexity leads to models of complex systems that avoid the oversimplification that results from rule-based models.; The book integrates insights from complexity and computational theo

General

Imprint:	Routledge
Country of origin:	United Kingdom
Release date:	February 1998
First published:	1998
Authors:	Paul Cilliers
Dimensions:	234 x 156 x 18mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Hardcover
Pages:	176
ISBN-13:	978-0-415-15286-0
Categories:	Books > Science & Mathematics > Science: general issues > Philosophy of science Books > Reference & Interdisciplinary > Interdisciplinary studies > Cultural studies > General Books > Humanities > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present > Western philosophy, from c 1900 - > General Books > Philosophy > Western philosophy > Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present > Western philosophy, from c 1900 - > General
LSN:	0-415-15286-0
Barcode:	9780415152860

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