Setting the Stage: Complex Systems, Emergence and Evolution
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various differences with each other, depending on how they adapt, allowing
new generations to have a gradual divergence from the starting pool of characteristics. These differences are brought about due to locations, limited information or available resources, allowing emergence of new species that can
better adapt to given situations. Some individuals not well adapted, will gradually die out, leaving only strong ones to multiply.
The term reliability refers to probability of a component operating satisfactorily during a certain time frame. Quantifying reliability requires one
to define, assess and combine probabilities of risk and system behaviors [27].
This may require identifying system variabilities and vulnerabilities, to predict
lifetimes to assess model reliability.
1.7 Distributing Intelligence?
Evolution is learning and not intelligence. Minsky [134] claimed that intelligence is used to emphasize swiftness and efficiency of a solution.
“Evolution’s time rate is so slow that we don’t see it as intelligent,
even though it finally produces wonderful things we ourselves cannot yet
make”.
Evolutionary behavior can be observed at multiple levels. Every layer can
be ‘zoomed in’ to see different patterns of behavior emerging. Johnson [98]
discusses an example of a city as a complex system, where the city itself
behaves like one individual system, consisting of a number of thriving neighborhoods within. Each neighborhood consists of a collection of people involved
in complex networks such as traffic networks. Similar to ant colonies, a city
is a system which has decentralized control, learning from local interactions
making a man-made self-organising system using emergence.
However, the beauty of these systems lies in the individual elements. These
units can think, restructure and communicate with other units. Some of these
characteristics are summarized as follows:
System is part of a larger complex system. The systems are connected
to other systems as a hierarchy or using input or output branches.
Systems are open systems. The systems are interacting with other systems continuously with no bounds. In a closed system, the system exists
as an isolated entity with specific boundaries, like gas molecules contained in a container, where conditions of thermodynamics hold. Entropy changes can therefore be predicted. However, some systems are
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various differences with each other, depending on how they adapt, allowing
new generations to have a gradual divergence from the starting pool of characteristics. These differences are brought about due to locations, limited information or available resources, allowing emergence of new species that can
better adapt to given situations. Some individuals not well adapted, will gradually die out, leaving only strong ones to multiply.
The term reliability refers to probability of a component operating satisfactorily during a certain time frame. Quantifying reliability requires one
to define, assess and combine probabilities of risk and system behaviors [27].
This may require identifying system variabilities and vulnerabilities, to predict
lifetimes to assess model reliability.
1.7 Distributing Intelligence?
Evolution is learning and not intelligence. Minsky [134] claimed that intelligence is used to emphasize swiftness and efficiency of a solution.
“Evolution’s time rate is so slow that we don’t see it as intelligent,
even though it finally produces wonderful things we ourselves cannot yet
make”.
Evolutionary behavior can be observed at multiple levels. Every layer can
be ‘zoomed in’ to see different patterns of behavior emerging. Johnson [98]
discusses an example of a city as a complex system, where the city itself
behaves like one individual system, consisting of a number of thriving neighborhoods within. Each neighborhood consists of a collection of people involved
in complex networks such as traffic networks. Similar to ant colonies, a city
is a system which has decentralized control, learning from local interactions
making a man-made self-organising system using emergence.
However, the beauty of these systems lies in the individual elements. These
units can think, restructure and communicate with other units. Some of these
characteristics are summarized as follows:
System is part of a larger complex system. The systems are connected
to other systems as a hierarchy or using input or output branches.
Systems are open systems. The systems are interacting with other systems continuously with no bounds. In a closed system, the system exists
as an isolated entity with specific boundaries, like gas molecules contained in a container, where conditions of thermodynamics hold. Entropy changes can therefore be predicted. However, some systems are