Thinking in Complexity

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XII

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2. Introduction: From Linear to Nonlinear Thinking

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 1-13

3. Complex Systems and the Evolution of Matter

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 15-75

4. Complex Systems and the Evolution of Life

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 77-109

5. Complex Systems and the Evolution of Mind-Brain

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 111-167

6. Complex Systems and the Evolution of Artificial Intelligence

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 169-241

7. Complex Systems and the Evolution of Human Society

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 243-294

8. Epilogue on Future, Science, and Ethics

   • Klaus Mainzer

   Pages 295-316

9. Back Matter

   Pages 317-351

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Since the first edition sold out in less than a year, we now present the revised second edition of Mainzer's popular book. The theory of nonlinear complex systems has become a successful problem-solving approach in the natural sciences from laser physics, quantum chaos, and meteorology to computer simulations of cell growth in biology. It is now recognized that many of our social, ecological, and political problems are also of a global, complex, and nonlinear nature. And one of the most exciting contemporary topics is the idea that even the human mind is governed largely by the nonlinear dynamics of complex systems. In this wide-ranging but concise treatment, Prof. Mainzer discusses, in a nontechnical language, the common framework behind these endeavors. Emphasis is given to the evolution of new structures in natural and cultural systems and we see clearly how the new integrative approach can give insights not available from traditional reductionistic methods.

• Chaos
• Complexity
• biology
• cell
• evolution
• nonlinear dynamics
• quantum chaos

• Lehrstuhl für Philosophie und Wissenschaftstheorie, Universität Augsburg, Augsburg, Deutschland

  Klaus Mainzer

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