The Engine of Complexity : Evolution as Computation / John Mayfield.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Mayfield, John, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Biology--Mathematical models.

Biology.

Evolution (Biology)--Mathematical models.

Evolution (Biology).

Biological control systems--Mathematical models.

Biological control systems.

Computational complexity.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (417 p.)

Place of Publication:

New York, NY : Columbia University Press, [2013]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The concepts of evolution and complexity theory have become part of the intellectual ether permeating the life sciences, the social and behavioral sciences, and, more recently, management science and economics. In this book, John E. Mayfield elegantly synthesizes core concepts from multiple disciplines to offer a new approach to understanding how evolution works and how complex organisms, structures, organizations, and social orders can and do arise based on information theory and computational science. Intended for the intellectually adventuresome, this book challenges and rewards readers with a nuanced understanding of evolution and complexity that offers consistent, durable, and coherent explanations for major aspects of our life experiences. Numerous examples throughout the book illustrate evolution and complexity formation in action and highlight the core function of computation lying at the work's heart.

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

Introduction

1. The Problem

2. Computation

3. Structure For Free

4. Purposeful Structure

5. Improbability And The Engine Of Complexity

6. Algorithmic Evolution

7. Evolution Within The Body

8. Taking Control Of The Cycle

9. Complex Systems

10. Human Learning And Creativity

11. Cultural Evolution

12. The Evolution Of Complexity

13. Past And Present

14. The Future

Acknowledgments

Notes

Glossary

References

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on online resource; title from PDF title page (publisher's Web site, viewed 08. Jul 2019)

ISBN:

9780231535281

0231535287

OCLC:

849935838