Thinking in Complexity: The Complex Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and Mankind [Hardcover]

Klaus Mainzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1996 | ISBN-10: 3540606378 | ISBN-13: 978-3540606376 | Edition: 2nd Rev

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.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Chaos is cropping up everywhere these days. As it becomes ever more apparent that Newtonian mechanics is inadequate for modeling nonlinear systems, or systems that have too many degrees of freedom to handle easily, researchers in all fields are turning toward nonlinear dynamics as a refreshing alternative. This is a paradigm shift à la Kuhn, and Klaus Mainzer guides us through it with an astounding range of historical and scientific knowledge. From quantum physics to consciousness to economics, Mainzer shows us how thinking complexly can solve problems over which standard, linear thinking continually stumbles. Instead of simplifying, however, Mainzer revels in the complexity of complexity, so the reader should be prepared for advanced concepts in such varied fields as mathematics, physics, and economics. Difficult, but worthwhile reading.

Review

From the reviews of the fourth edition:

THE INDUSTRIAL PHYSICIST:

"The science of complexity is likely to be among the most salient features of the 21^st century, and Thinking in Complexity: Computational Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and Mankind is just as likely to be among the most popular introductions to the topic. Author Klaus Mainzer treats highly technical materials related to descriptions of complexity pervading science, engineering, and societal dynamics–and even ethics–with a lucidity that is sure to captivate physicists as well as the general public with a moderate scientific background. … Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer’s exposition, which is based on a tight coupling between classical and historical concepts from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical developments, including relativity, chaos, and quantum physics. Every chapter begins with a section designed to orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. Readers patient enough to read through the lines will be rewarded with occasional gems such as Mainzer’s speculation on a possible correlation between a society’s development of atomistic ideas and its possession of a phonetic alphabet. The author takes pains to point out essential differences between classical science and the science of complexity. … Thinking in Complexity is an outstandingly readable book."

"This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite wih 22 pages of references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the science of complexity." (Physicalia 2005, vol. 57, page 191-192)

"All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH 2004, vol. 1046, page 5)

"‘This is the fourth revised and slightly enlarged edition’ of what has been a bestseller since its first publication in 1994. … This book is ambitious, incredibly erudite with 22 pages of references, and is indisputably clearly and beautifully written and illustrated. It is perfectly suited to a first course on the science of complexity. Even beginners and young graduate students will have something to learn from this book." (André Hautot, Physicalia, Vol. 57 (3), 2005)

"Here is the fourth edition of a highly successful sequence of editions of this excellent book on complexity theory and its implications. … The major change from the three earlier editions is a shift of emphasis from the complex dynamics of matter, mind, and mankind towards the computational dynamics of mind, matter and mankind. … 100 pages of useful new material have been added to the book. All-in-all, this highly recommended book is a wonderful resource for intuitive basic ideas in the need of rigorous formulation." (Albert A. Mullin, Zentralblatt MATH, Vol. 1046 (21), 2004)

"Readers of this book will enjoy Mainzer’s exposition, which is based on a tight coupling between classical and historical concepts from Plato and Aristotle to modern, mathematical and physical developments … . Every chapter begins with a section designed to orient the reader to the perspective of philosophical developments through the ages pertinent to the topic at hand. … The author takes pains to point out essential differences between classical science and the science of complexity. … Thinking in Complexity is an outstandingly readable book." (Anutosh Moitra, The Industrial Physicist, August/September, 2004)

--This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 349 pages
• Publisher: Springer Verlag; 2nd Rev edition (March 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3540606378
• ISBN-13: 978-3540606376
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,021,000 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars very difficult subject; but intriguing ideas, January 18, 2006

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thinking in Complexity: The Computational Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and Mankind (Hardcover)

[A review of the 4th Edition, 2003.]

This book studies complexity and nonlinearity across a diverse range of applications. Much of the book revolves around organic evolution and the evolution of a sentient mind. And how complexity analysis might aid in the understanding of these fields. Not the least in devising deeper forms of artificial intelligence.

So intriguing techniques like cellular automata and neural networks are studied. There is a fair amount of speculation as to how these and other topics might ultimately relate to sentience or consciousness. But the musings are grounded in solid science. Like that of a Hopfield system or a Boltzmann machine. This 4th edition is a good reflection of the boundaries of our knowledge.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars understandable highest level science with cultural backg, June 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Thinking in Complexity, 3rd Edition, Revised & Enlarged (Hardcover)

The book covers a broad field - all parts in close connection with the others and its background in modern science and historic cultural connotations. The theoretical aspects are merged with lively explanations. Readable for the non-specialist, understandable for the average science-educated and meaningful for the specilaists, both in physical systems science and in philosophy. A top-notch guide through this topic of multidisciplinary novelties.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Full but turgid catalogue of complexity phenomena, February 25, 1998

By 

Niall Palfreyman (Germany) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Thinking in Complexity, 3rd Edition, Revised & Enlarged (Hardcover)

This book is an extremely well-informed cataloguing of the many areas of human experience in which self-organisation and complexity phenomena play an important role. However the writer's style becomes very heavy as a result of transferring German constructions into English - so much so that I was forced to skim read many sections.