Complexity, Language, and Life: Mathematical Approaches

Abstract

a small group of investigators at the scientific research station at Abisko, Sweden, for the purpose of examining various conceptual and mathematical views of the evolution of complex systems. The stated theme of the meeting was deliberately kept vague, with only the purpose of discussing alternative mathematically based approaches to the modeling of evolving processes being given as a guideline to the participants. In order to limit the scope to some degree, it was decided to emphasize living rather than nonliving processes and to invite participants from a range of disciplinary specialities spanning the spectrum from pure and applied mathematics to geography and analytic philosophy.The results of the meeting were quite extraordinary; while there was no intent to focus the papers and discussion into predefined channels, an immediate self-organizing effect took place and the deliberations quickly oriented themselves into three main streams: conceptual and formal structures for characterizing system complexity; evolutionary processes in biology and ecology; the emergence of complexity through evolution in natural languages. The chapters presented in this volume are not the proceedings of the meeting. Following the meeting, the organizers felt that the ideas and spirit of the gathering should be preserved in some written form, so the participants were each requested to produce a chapter, explicating the views they presented at Abisko, written specifically for this volume. The results of this exercise form the volume you hold in your hand.Special thanks for their help in various phases of organizations of the meeting and arrangement of the publication of this volume are due to M. Olson, P. Sahlstrom, and R. Ouis. December 1985 John Casti, Vienna Anders Karlqvist, StockholmThe International Institute for Applied Analysis is a nongovernmental research institution, bringing together scientists from around the world to work on problems of common concern. Situated in Laxenburg, Austria, IIASA was founded in October 1972 by the academies of science and equivalent organizations of twelve countries. Its founders gave IIASA a unique position outside national, disciplinary, and institutional boundaries so that it might take the broadest possible view in pursuing its objectives:To promote international cooperation in solving problems arising from social, economic, technological, and environmental change To create a network of institutions in the national member organization countries and elsewhere for joint scientific research To develop and formalize systems analysis and the sciences contributing to it, and promote the use of analytical techniques needed to evaluate and address complex problems To inform policy advisors and decision makers about the potential application of the Institute's work to such problemsThe Institute now has national member organizations in the following countries: Complexity and the Evolution of Living SystemsOne of the most evident features distinguishing living from nonliving systems is the tende...