Re: simulation as a causal/inferential "chimera"

[Tim Gwinn <***>]

Steve,

 

Yep, that's the book. The book is edited by Rosen, and consists of 3 chapters.

 

Chapter 1 is by I.W. Richardson, titled "The Dynamics and Energetics of Complex Real Systems". About 60 pages, I confess I have only skimmed this chapter. Energy, as a way of understanding systems, has never interested me very much, so I haven't found the interest to go through the details. It is fairly technical.

 

The second chapter is by Aloisius Louie and is titled "Categorical System Theory". It is roughly 100 pages on the use of Category Theory in modelling, with some applications to biology. Also rather technical, it reads something like a Category Theory textbook. I knew I was in for a deep read when the first two pages were a glossary of special symbols, double-column and in fairly small print! To begin the chapter, he writes: "The single greatest influence in the development of this work is the book "Fundamentals of Measurement and Representation of Natural Systems"...", another book heavily laden with CT formalism. Very worthwhile for those interested in the formal application of Category Theory to modelling.

 

Chapter 3 is the one by Rosen, titled "Organisms as Causal Systems Which Are Not Mechanisms: An Essay into the Nature of Complexity".  About 40 pages, it consists of the following sections:

I. Introduction

II. Biology and Other sciences

III. Relational Biology

IV. The (M,R)-Systems

V. A First Attempt at Realization of (M,R)-Systems

VI. The Modelling Relation

VII. The Newtonian Paradigm

VII. Mappings and "System Laws" in the Newtonian Paradigm

IX. Causality

X. Complex Systems

XI. An Alternate Approach: "Information"

XII. Conclusion

 

Strictly speaking, I don't think there is anything in here that cannot be found elsewhere in other books or papers, except perhaps for section V (and that may be only because I simply haven't read it elsewhere yet). However, some of the layout and the explanations in this chapter I find to be very helpful and concise, so I often find myself going back to this book.

 

Let me know if you want more details.

 

Regards,

Tim

 

 

-----Original Message-----
From: ROSEN Forum [mailto:***On Behalf Of Steve Johnson
Sent: Saturday, January 01, 2005 4:45 PM
To: ***
Subject: Re: simulation as a causal/inferential "chimera"

 

Tim,

 

Thanks so much for this. I'm going to have to go through this carefully before I can respond. Quick question for now. When you mentioned "Theoretical Biology and Complexity" are you referring  to  "Theoretical Biology and Complexity: Three Essays on the Natural Philosophy of Complex Systems"? I have not heard of this book before. What it about? Could you (or Judith) send the table of contents?

 

Thanks so much,

 

- Steve