Complexity and the arrow of time / edited by Charles H. Lineweaver, Australian National University, Paul C. W. Davies, Arizona State University, Michael Ruse, Florida State University.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Lineweaver, C. H. (Charley H.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Complexity (Philosophy).

Science--Philosophy.

Science.

Physical Description:

xii, 357 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2013.

Summary:

"There is a widespread assumption that the universe in general, and life in particular, is "getting more complex with time". This book brings together a wide range of experts in science, philosophy, and theology and unveils their joint effort in exploring this idea. They confront essential problems behind the theory of complexity and the role of life within it: What is complexity? When does it increase, and why? Is the universe evolving towards states of ever greater complexity and diversity? If so, what is the source of this universal enrichment? This book addresses those difficult questions, and offers a unique cross-disciplinary perspective on some of the most profound issues at the heart of science and philosophy. Readers will gain insights in complexity that reach deep into key areas of physics, biology, complexity science, philosophy and religion"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

What is complexity? Is it increasing? / Charles H. Lineweaver, Paul C.W. Davies, and Michael Ruse

Directionality principles from cancer to cosmology / Paul C.W. Davies

A simple treatment of complexity : cosmological entropic boundary conditions on increasing complexity / Charles H. Lineweaver

Using complexity science to search for unity in the natural sciences / Eric J. Chaisson

On the spontaneous generation of complexity in the universe / Seth Lloyd

Emergent spatiotemporal complexity in field theory / Marcelo Gleiser

Life : the final frontier for complexity? / Simon Conway Morris

Evolution beyond Newton, Darwin, and entailing law : the origin of complexity in the evolving biosphere / Stuart A. Kauffman

Emergent order in processes : the interplay of complexity, robustness, correlation, and hierarchy in the biosphere / D. Eric Smith

The inferential evolution of biological complexity : forgetting nature by learning to nurture / David C. Krakauer

Information width : a way for the second law to increase complexity / David H. Wolpert

Wrestling with biological complexity : from Darwin to Dawkins / Michael Ruse

The role of generative entrenchment and robustness in the evolution of complexity / William C. Wimsatt

On the plurality of complexity-producing mechanisms / Philip Clayton.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781107027251

110702725X

OCLC:

828884479

Online:

Cover image