Philosophy of complex systems is concerned with the essential nature of systems which are made up of diverse interacting elements. Since these systems manifest vivid dynamics and a broad spectrum of phenomena. Efficiency and robustness are some of the key features to be addressed emerging from systems and dynamic systems theories. Philosophers of complex systems are involved in attaining and capturing the subtleties of complex systems so that control, equilibrium and predictability can be understood better to be implemented further.
Much of complexity theory is said to have stemmed from the developments in mathematics as well as computational theory; and thus, complexity has been mostly handled within the philosophy of science, mathematics as well as computation. It is claimed that some discussions disregard already established work on complexity or employed ideas which have been derived principally from chaos theory. Philosophy has always been involved in complex issues, and the language of complexity could productively address certain philosophical debates nurtured by ideas from philosophy of language, culture and society as such. A general sensitivity to complexity in philosophy can be followed from a track by observing the positions that encompass a systems perspective. The deliberation can be started by Hegel who posits that dialectical process whereby knowledge and the relationship between knowledge and the world, develops and works in a systemic manner [Hegel, G. W. F., A. V. Miller, (1977)].
A synthesis outlook incorporates the differences of the thesis and the antithesis, posing as a new thesis to be confronted. Therefore, Hegel’s system is deemed as an historical entity, yet one with a procedural nature. On the other hand, systems theory presents a scientific foundation to the ideas of holism and emergence, and theories related to self-organization and biological evolution raise awareness on the fact that regularity or organization is not given, but they emerge dynamically out of a tangle of conflicting forces and random fluctuations, which is a process summarized as order out of chaos in an apt way.
The unfolding various approaches become integrated under complexity science whose central paradigm is the multi-agent system, namely a collection of autonomous components with local interactions giving rise to a global order. Although agents are intrinsically subjective and uncertain about the consequences of their actions, it can be said that they are generally capable of self-organizing into an emergent and adaptive systems. Thus, uncertainty and subjectivity should no longer be viewed negatively, as the loss of the absolute order of mechanism, but positively, as factors of creativity, adaptation and evolution. These aspects and considerations show that philosophy may solve some of its perennial problems, while scientists of complexity can become cognizant of the foundations and implications of their models. One may also refer to...
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