Topic:Complex systems

Context

This topic forms part of the systems and complexity area of study. People who are competent in the topic can apply their knowledge to describe the features of complex systems and how they are distinguishable from other forms of system such as ordered, chaotic, and stochastic systems.

Competencies

Expected competencies after study of this topic are:

• understand the difference between deterministic and nondeterministic systems
• define the characteristics of classes of deterministic and nondeterministic systems (ordered, chaotic, complex and stochastic)
• describe the behaviours that result from the essential characteristics of complex systems

Key Concepts

The fact that complex systems are not random but also not completely ordered is of central importance ... it is a necessary condition for a complex system that it exhibit some kind of spontaneous order ... [They are] organized into a variety of levels of structure and properties that interact with the level above and below ... [exhibiting] causal regularities, and various kinds of symmetry, order and periodic behaviour.

—Ladyman, Lambert & Weisner, What is a complex system?

Primers

• Introduction to Complexity: What are Complex Systems? (Video)
• An Introduction to Complex Systems Science and its Applications

Further Reading

• Ladyman, Lambert & Weisner: What is a Complex System?
• Universal resilience patterns in complex networks

Subject matter experts

• Friedrich Hayek
• Kenneth Arrow