Complexity Science as an Aspect of the Complexity of Science

Mikulecky, Donald C.

doi:10.1142/9789812707420_0003

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…We are also reminded of Donald Mikulecky’s thought-provoking statement “The widely accepted myth that biology is special and that physics is generic is totally wrong. In fact, far more can be learned about the material world by a careful study of biology than can ever be learned from physics.” Perhaps, the time is right for physical chemistry to look up at biological, geological, or even planetary systems for valuable insights and inspiration that ultimately will complement the remarkable achievements inspired by atomic physics.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns Lead the Way to Far-from-Equilibrium Materials

Knoll,

Ouyang,

Steinbock

2023

ACS Phys. Chem Au

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The universe is a complex fabric of repeating patterns that unfold their beauty in system-specific diversity. The periodic table, crystallography, and the genetic code are classic examples that illustrate how even a small number of rules generate a vast range of shapes and structures. Today, we are on the brink of an AI-driven revolution that will reveal an unprecedented number of novel patterns, many of which will escape human intuition and expertise. We suggest that in the second half of the 21st century, the challenge for Physical Chemistry will be to guide and interpret these advances in the broader context of physical sciences and materials-related engineering. If we succeed in this role, Physical Chemistry will be able to extend to new horizons. In this article, we will discuss examples that strike us as particularly promising, specifically the discovery of high-entropy and far-from-equilibrium materials as well as applications to origins-of-life research and the search for life on other planets.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterns Lead the Way to Far-from-Equilibrium Materials

Knoll,

Ouyang,

Steinbock

2023

ACS Phys. Chem Au

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“…Currently, if there were to be a contest between explanatory, conceptual understanding and accurate predicting, predicting would win. Physics gets its best predictions through the statistical reasoning of quantum theory and thermodynamics, even though these lack the concreteness and appeal of conventional, embodied, mechanical reasoning (Mikulecky, 2005). A modern theoretical physicist (Beretta, 2009, p. 2) decries current attitudes (compared to those of Max Planck, above) when he notes that statistical reasoning has "enjoyed such great successes that the power of its methods have deeply convinced almost the entire physical community that the conceptual problems can be safely ignored.…”

Section: Predictive Models and Metaphorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

How Metaphors Guide, Teach and Popularize Science

2020

Figurative Thought and Language

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Metaphors are essential to scientists themselves and strongly influence science communication. Through careful analyses of metaphors actually used in science texts, recordings, and videos, this book explores the essential functions of conceptual metaphor in the conduct of science, teaching of science, and how scientific ideas are promoted and popularized. With an accessible introduction to theory and method this book prepares scientists, science teachers, and science writers to take advantage of recent shifts in metaphor theories and methods. Metaphor specialists will find theoretical issues explored in studies of bacteriology, cell reproduction, marine biology, physics, brain function and social psychology. We see the degree of conscious or intentional use of metaphor in shaping our conceptual systems and constraining inferences. Metaphor sources include social structure, embodied experience, abstract or mathematical formulations. The results are sometimes innovative hypotheses and robust conclusions; other times pedagogically useful, if inaccurate, stepping stones or, at worst, misleading fictions. As of January 2023, this e-book is freely available, thanks to the support of libraries working with Knowledge Unlatched.

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“…As a starting point we can use Mikulecky's (2007) This is an alternative, equally valid, way of characterizing complex systems, not, as described earlier, in terms of their properties, but rather in terms of our models and their relationships with each other. Whereas a simple system can, in this view, be fully characterized by a model (a so-called "largest" model), a complex system cannot, but may require several (ultimately an infinite set of) nonequivalent models.…”

Section: Figmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexity, Modeling, and Natural Resource Management

Cilliers¹,

Biggs²,

Blignaut³

et al. 2013

E&S

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ABSTRACT. This paper contends that natural resource management (NRM) issues are, by their very nature, complex and that both scientists and managers in this broad field will benefit from a theoretical understanding of complex systems. It starts off by presenting the core features of a view of complexity that not only deals with the limits to our understanding, but also points toward a responsible and motivating position. Everything we do involves explicit or implicit modeling, and as we can never have comprehensive access to any complex system, we need to be aware both of what we leave out as we model and of the implications of the choice of our modeling framework. One vantage point is never sufficient, as complexity necessarily implies that multiple (independent) conceptualizations are needed to engage the system adequately. We use two South African cases as examples of complex systems-restricting the case narratives mainly to the biophysical domain associated with NRM issuesthat make the point that even the behavior of the biophysical subsystems themselves are already complex. From the insights into complex systems discussed in the first part of the paper and the lessons emerging from the way these cases have been dealt with in reality, we extract five interrelated generic principles for practicing science and management in complex NRM environments. These principles are then further elucidated using four further South African case studies-organized as two contrasting pairs-and now focusing on the more difficult organizational and social side, comparing the human organizational endeavors in managing such systems.

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Complexity Science as an Aspect of the Complexity of Science

Cited by 12 publications

References 8 publications

Patterns Lead the Way to Far-from-Equilibrium Materials

Patterns Lead the Way to Far-from-Equilibrium Materials

How Metaphors Guide, Teach and Popularize Science

Complexity, Modeling, and Natural Resource Management

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