Artificial Worlds [Hardcover]

R. Morris (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0306460025 | ISBN-13: 978-0306460029 | Publication Date: April 18, 1999

In their laboratories, complexity scientists have been experimenting with complex chemicals that display some of the characteristics of life, and have created electronic computer-virus-like life-forms that are born, die, reproduce, mutate, and evolve. Through these artificial worlds they have actually been able to monitor evolution as it happens, since it takes place at a much more rapid pace within a computer - where new species can evolve in as little as an hour. Among the phenomena that these scientists hope to observe are the evolution of multicellular life forms, and possibly even the evolution of electronic intelligence. Could it be that life itself is an emergent property that arises spontaneously when a chemical system attains a certain degree of complexity? At the cutting edge of discovery, this exciting new branch of science has fostered a rare and intriguing dialogue between innovators across a broad range of disciplines, from mathematicians, computer scientists, and economists, to anthropologists and biologists. Richard Morris makes this major field of inquiry accessible to a popular readership as never before, while he reveals its potential to solve the greatest of all questions to puzzle humankind - what is life?

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (April 18, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306460025
• ISBN-13: 978-0306460029
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,384,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Computers and evolution, June 19, 2000

By 

"hsweet" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artificial Worlds (Hardcover)

I am writing review this because a previous review may mislead some people. This book does not claim to deal with Artificial Life; instead, computers are used to provide a better understanding of life's processes, especially evolution. Given that this is the stated objective of the author, the book is excellent, well written, and rich with examples.

I have purchased multiple copies of this book because I have "loaned" my copies to people interested in computational evolution. When I leave administration, I would like to teach a course in evolution, and if it is not too far in the future, I will require this book as outside reading.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars for the Biology Scientist who wants to make computer models, July 17, 2001

By 

yvette Lemoine (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artificial Worlds (Hardcover)

This book is a must for the Biology scientist knowing a little about computers and how they work, if you want to study the Evolution and nature of life on a computer. I found it so overwhelming that I decided to become a Biology scientist and focus my life on making simulations of the Evolution of Life by making computer models. So many things to discover! So little time!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Computers and evolution, June 19, 2000

By 

"hsweet" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Artificial Worlds (Hardcover)

I am writing review this because a previous review may mislead some people. This book does not claim to deal with Artificial Life; instead, computers are used to provide a better understanding of life's processes, especially evolution. Given that this is the stated objective of the author, the book is excellent, well written, and rich with examples.

I have purchased multiple copies of this book because I have "loaned" my copies to people interested in computational evolution. When I leave administration, I would like to teach a course in evolution, and if it is not too far in the future, I will require this book as outside reading.