Complexity: A Philosophical Overview (Science and Technology Studies) (Hardcover)

by Nicholas Rescher (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
This volume explores the nature of complexity and considers its bearing on our world and how we manage our affairs within it. Although offering a sobering outlook, Rescher also believes that complexity entails mixed blessings: our imperfect knowledge provides a rationale for putting forth our best efforts.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 219 pages
• Publisher: Transaction Publishers (June 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560003774
• ISBN-13: 978-1560003779
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #660,017 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating ideas, poor editing is a distraction, July 6, 2001

By	Trevor Rotzien "Holistic contextual disambigu... (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was enthused to discover this book when I did because it appeared to present complexity at precisely the level I was hoping for: as a philosophical and practical concept not necessarily dependent upon difficult mathematics or theory. I dove in, and it was fairly challenging reading. The tragedy of this book is that the topics and many of ideas offered-up appeal a great deal to my intellect, but the astonishingly poor editing is a significant distraction. There are cases of material repeated verbatim, painfully obvious typographic errors, and an insufficient degree of conciseness overall. It seems as if the book was under-funded, over-rushed or simply assigned the wrong editor. It is indeed a shame, since discussions such as why the growth of science may not have an inherent limit, but may be limited by resources are interesting. I also enjoyed the taxonomy of complexity. It has allowed me to consider, with greater subtlety, the complexity in the systems with which I work, and alternatives to manage it. I would give the ideas in this work 4 or 5 stars, but the lack of effective editing make this a difficult read.

2 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Sorry, but I don't want to review Prof. Rescher's book., October 28, 1999

By A Customer

Instead, I just want to give you information about a "misprint" in his book: Unfortunately, on page 164, note 6 a paper of mine is cited incorrectly.

The corrected source is:

Theodor Leiber "Chaos, Berechnungskomplexität und Physik: Neue Grenzen wissenschaftlicher Erkenntnis?" Philosophia Naturalis, vol. 33 (1996), pp. 23-54

With best regards

Theodor Leiber