Self-organization and dissipative structures : applications in the physical and social sciences / edited by William C. Schieve and Peter M. Allen.

Format:

Book

Conference/Event

Contributor:

Schieve, W. C., editor.

Allen, Peter M. (Peter Murray), 1944- editor.

Conference Name:

Workshop on Dissipative Structures in the Social and Physical Sciences (1978 : Austin, Tex.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Prigogine, I. (Ilya).

Prigogine, I.

Self-organizing systems.

Chemistry, Physical and theoretical.

Biochemistry.

Social structure.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (374 pages) : illustrations

Place of Publication:

Austin, Texas : University of Texas Press, 1982.

Summary:

The contributions to this volume attempt to apply different aspects of Ilya Prigogine's Nobel-prize-winning work on dissipative structures to nonchemical systems as a way of linking the natural and social sciences. They address both the mathematical methods for description of pattern and form as they evolve in biological systems and the mechanisms of the evolution of social systems, containing many variables responding to subjective, qualitative stimuli. The mathematical modeling of human systems, especially those far from thermodynamic equilibrium, must involve both chance and determinism, aspects both quantitative and qualitative. Such systems (and the physical states of matter which they resemble) are referred to as self-organized or dissipative structures in order to emphasize their dependence on the flows of matter and energy to and from their surroundings. Some such systems evolve along lines of inevitable change, but there occur instances of choice, or bifurcation, when chance is an important factor in the qualitative modification of structure. Such systems suggest that evolution is not a system moving toward equilibrium but instead is one which most aptly evokes the patterns of the living world. The volume is truly interdisciplinary and should appeal to researchers in both the physical and social sciences. Based on a workshop on dissipative structures held in 1978 at the University of Texas, contributors include Prigogine, A. G. Wilson, Andre de Palma, D. Kahn, J. L. Deneubourgh, J. W. Stucki, Richard N. Adams, and Erick Jantsch. The papers presented include Allen, "Self-Organization in the Urban System"; Robert Herman, "Remarks on Traffic Flow Theories and the Characterization of Traffic in Cities"; W. H. Zurek and Schieve, "Nucleation Paradigm: Survival Threshold in Population Dynamics"; De Palma et al., "Boolean Equations with Temporal Delays"; Nicholas Georgescu-Roegin, "Energy Analysis and Technology Assessment"; Magoroh Maruyama, "Four Different Causal Meta-types in Biological and Social Sciences"; and Jantsch, "From Self-Reference to Self-Transcendence: The Evolution of Self-Organization Dynamics."

Contents:

Frontmatter

Contents

Preface

1. The Challenge of Complexity

2. Self-Organization in Nonequilibrium Chemistry and in Biology

3. On the Dynamics of Technological Evolutions: Phase Transitions

4. The Many Faces of Scaling: Fractals, Geometry of Nature, and Economics

5. Successive Reequilibrations as the Mechanism of Cultural Evolution

6. The Emergence of Hierarchical Social Structure: The Case of Late Victorian England

7. Self-Organization in the Urban System

8. Criticality and Urban Retail Structure: Aspects of Catastrophe Theory and Bifurcation

9. Trip Making and Locational Choice

10. Creation of Order by Environmental Noise in the Volterra-Lotka Model

11. Noise-Induced Nonequilibrium Phase Transitions

12. Nucléation Paradigm: Survival Threshold in Population Dynamics

13. The Efficiency of Oxidative Phosphorylation and the Thermodynamic Buffer Enzymes

14. Patterns of Nonequilibrium Organization in a Marine Bacterial Population

15. Boolean Equations with Temporal Delays

16. Remarks on Traffic Flow Theories and the Characterization of Traffic in Cities

17. Fluctuations in Demand and Transportation Mode Choice

18. A Calibration of the Boltzmann-Like Theory of Traffic Flow

19. Energy Analysis and Technology Assessment

20. Thermodynamic Constraints in Economic Analysis

21. Economic Dynamics

22. From Self-Reference to Self-Transcendence: The Evolution of Self-Organization Dynamics

23. Four Different Causal Metatypes in Biological and Social Sciences

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

1-4773-0031-7

OCLC:

1286807746