From Complexity to Life: On The Emergence of Life and MeaningNiels Henrik Gregersen This book brings together an impressive group of leading scholars in the sciences of complexity, and a few workers on the interface of science and religion, to explore the wider implications of complexity studies. It includes an introduction to complexity studies and explores the concept of information in physics and biology and various philosophical and religious perspectives. Chapter authors include Paul Davies, Greg Chaitin, Charles Bennett, Werner Loewenstein, Paul Dembski, Ian Stewart, Stuart Kauffman, Harold Morowitz, Arthur Peacocke, and Niels H. Gregersen. |
Contents
Toward an Emergentist Worldview | 3 |
DEFINING COMPLEXITY | 17 |
2 Randomness and Mathematical Proof | 19 |
3 How to Define Complexity in Physics and Why | 34 |
THE CONCEPT OF INFORMATION IN PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY | 45 |
4 The Emergence of Autonomous Agents | 47 |
5 Complexity and the Arrow of Time | 72 |
6 Can Evolutionary Algorithms Generate Specified Complexity? | 93 |
7 The Second Law of Gravitics and the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics | 114 |
8 Two Arrows from a Mighty Bow | 151 |
PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES | 175 |
9 Emergence of Transcedence | 177 |
10 Complexity Emergence and Divine Creativity | 187 |
11 From Anthropic Design to SelfOrganized Complexity | 206 |
235 | |
Other editions - View all
From Complexity to Life: On The Emergence of Life and Meaning Niels Henrik Gregersen Limited preview - 2002 |
From Complexity to Life: On the Emergence of Life and Meaning Niels Henrik Gregersen Limited preview - 2003 |
From Complexity to Life: On The Emergence of Life and Meaning Niels Henrik Gregersen Limited preview - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
Alice anthropic principle antibody arrow Arthur Peacocke autonomous agents behavior binary biology biosphere blind search Boltzmann causal cells Chaitin chaos clumpiness coarse-graining complex systems concept cosmic cosmological cosmos Darwinian Davies defined demon disorder dynamical emergence energy entropy equilibrium evolution evolutionary algorithm evolved example existence explain finite fitness function fitness landscapes formal system fourth law given God's gravitic systems Gregersen heat human idea increases information theory informational context initial conditions intelligent design Kauffman law of thermodynamics laws of physics logical mathematical mechanics microstate million molecular molecules mutations nature Niels Henrik no-free-lunch theorem notion organisms Oxford particles particular Peacocke phase space photon physicists piston plexity possible probability problem processes properties protein quantum random relation replicators scientific second law selection self-organization sense specified complexity stars statistical structure Stuart Kauffman target sequence theology theorem thermodynamic system time-reversible tion trajectory University Press
References to this book
Holistic Darwinism: Synergy, Cybernetics, and the Bioeconomics of Evolution Peter Corning Limited preview - 2010 |
The Significance of Complexity: Approaching a Complex World Through Science ... Kees van Kooten Niekerk,Hans Buhl No preview available - 2004 |