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The Universe as Automaton

From Simplicity and Symmetry to Complexity

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Complexity (BRIEFSCOMPLEXITY, volume 1)

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Table of contents (9 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-viii
  2. Introduction: Leibniz, Turing, Zuse, and Beyond

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 1-16
  3. Simplicity in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 17-24
  4. Complexity in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 25-30
  5. Symmetry in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 31-43
  6. Attractors in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 45-65
  7. Time in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 67-74
  8. Matter in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 75-85
  9. Life and Brain in the Universe of Cellular Automata

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 87-103
  10. Outlook: Is the Universe a Computer?

    • Klaus Mainzer, Leon Chua
    Pages 105-108

About this book

This Brief is an essay at the interface of philosophy and complexity research, trying to inspire the reader with new ideas and new conceptual developments of cellular automata. Going beyond the numerical experiments of Steven Wolfram, it is argued that cellular automata must be considered complex dynamical systems in their own right, requiring appropriate analytical models in order to find precise answers and predictions in the universe of cellular automata.

Indeed, eventually we have to ask whether cellular automata can be considered models of the real world and, conversely, whether there are limits to our modern approach of attributing the world, and the universe for that matter, essentially a digital reality.

Reviews

From the reviews:

“This book contains a great deal of some central topics and actual problems of cellular automata theory. It is an introduction which emphasizes the mathematically interesting and beauty aspects of cellular automata and complex dynamical systems as well as their synthesis on an ambitious level suitable for graduate students and researchers. … To understand the complex computational world, the authors stress that cellular automata are an excellent instructional tool.” (Hasan Akin, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1237, 2012)

Authors and Affiliations

  • Lehrstuhl für Philosophie und, Wissenschaftstheorie, Technische Unviversität München, München, Germany

    Klaus Mainzer

  • EECS Department, University of California, Berkeley, USA

    Leon Chua

About the authors

Leon Chuas awards include:

IEEE Gustav Robert Kirchhoff Award, 2005"
Top 15 most cited Author in Engineering Award, 2002
(This award was chosen from the Current Contents (ISI) data base of all cited papers in the Engineering discipline (all branches of engineering) indexed from 1991 to October 31, 2001.)
IEEE Neural Networks Pioneer Award, 2000
IEEE Third Millenium Medal, 2000
IEEE Circuits and Systems Society Golden Jubilee Medal, 2000
Mac Van Valkenburg Award (1995 and 1998)
IEEE Centennial Medal, 1985
Alexander von Humboldt Senior US Scientist Award, 1982
Frederick Emmons Award, 1974
IEEE W. R. G. Baker Prize Award, 1973
IEEE Browder J. Thompson Memorial Prize Award, 1973

and he holds several honoris cause doctorates.

Bibliographic Information

Buy it now

Buying options

eBook USD 49.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book USD 64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Other ways to access