Science's traditional answers to the question: "How does complexity arise in nature?" are given at the beginning of this book. It shows how intelligence and human culture can be traced back to atomic structure, reducing the whole of nature to simple laws of fundamental physics. However, the book then proceeds to show that "How does complexity arise?" is really the wrong question. It proposes that a more interesting question is "Why do simple structures exist at all?". Scientific reductionism is useful but does not give the ...
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Science's traditional answers to the question: "How does complexity arise in nature?" are given at the beginning of this book. It shows how intelligence and human culture can be traced back to atomic structure, reducing the whole of nature to simple laws of fundamental physics. However, the book then proceeds to show that "How does complexity arise?" is really the wrong question. It proposes that a more interesting question is "Why do simple structures exist at all?". Scientific reductionism is useful but does not give the whole truth: it tells how but not why; it looks at insides but not outsides, content but not context. The subject-matter of traditional science is re-examined from a different viewpoint, focusing on the ability of complicated rules to generate simple behaviour, through the "collapse of chaos".
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Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $0.99, fair condition, Sold by ZBK Books rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Woodland Park, NJ, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Books.
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Fair. May contain writing notes highlighting bends or folds. Text is readable book is clean and pages and cover mostly intact. May show normal wear and tear. Item may be missing CD. May include library marks.
Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $1.91, good condition, Sold by The Maryland Book Bank rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from baltimore, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $2.88, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Brownstown, MI, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Group.
Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $2.88, very good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Reno rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Reno, NV, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Group.
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Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $3.00, very good condition, Sold by Ken's Book Haven rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Coopersburg, PA, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Books.
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Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $4.25, very good condition, Sold by citywbooks rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Salt Lake City, UT, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Books.
Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $4.50, very good condition, Sold by Half Price Books Inc rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Books.
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Very good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority!
Add this copy of The Collapse of Chaos: Discovering Simplicity in a to cart. $4.69, very good condition, Sold by Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Frederick, MD, UNITED STATES, published 1995 by Penguin Group.
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Very Good. Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp. Bundled media such as CDs, DVDs, floppy disks or access codes may not be included.
Really interesting material, well written, easy to read.
A large portion of the book quickly covers all areas of basic science.
Because of this, and because I have a bioengineering background, some parts were very familiar and therefore not that interesting.
The parts I did not know, I wound up reading with a lot of interest, because they are described well, and are not all at all dry like many textbooks make them out to be.
I tend to pick up a book, read it half way though, move onto the next one, get half way though, move on, etc, etc, and then eventually make my way back to the very first book and finish it.
Thus, another benefit of the book is that you can stop reading it and pick it up again without any loss of continuity, assuming you get through the current chapter.
The material in the book requires the reader to do some active thinking, so it's not very good if you plan to read it absentmindedly like a mystery novel.
I definitely recommend The Collapse of Chaos if you're not overwhelmed with life, and are looking for some mental stimulation.
