In what will certainly be one of the key works in the emerging science of complexity, Kauffman here presents a brilliant new paradigm for evolutionary biology. It extends the basic concepts of Darwinian evolution to accommodate recent findings and perspectives from the fields of biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. The book drives to the heart of the exciting debate on the origins of life and maintenance of order in complex biological systems. It focuses on the concept of self-organization - the first time this ...
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In what will certainly be one of the key works in the emerging science of complexity, Kauffman here presents a brilliant new paradigm for evolutionary biology. It extends the basic concepts of Darwinian evolution to accommodate recent findings and perspectives from the fields of biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics. The book drives to the heart of the exciting debate on the origins of life and maintenance of order in complex biological systems. It focuses on the concept of self-organization - the first time this concept has been incorporated into evolutionary theory. The book shows how complex systems, contrary to expectations, can spontaneously exhibit stunning degrees of order, and how this order in turn is essential for the emergence and development of life on Earth. Origins of Order will advance our understanding of evolution and provoke considerable discussion among evolutionary, molecular, and developmental biologists.
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Kauffman's book is not for the layman; it is actually rather difficult to read. Its topics belongs to the science of mathematical biology in its noblest sense. Central to its presentation is largely the NK model of random connected elements of an ensemble and, generally, graph - theoretical, Boolean, and other interconnected nets. It is proposed, by and large, that most of its subject matter: molecular biology, the origins of life, ontogenesis, etc. in an evolutional context (test tube and natural) the compromise between stability and change is best understood by looking at the interface between 'supracritical and subcritical' domains, the system lying close to, yet not reaching, the chaotic range. This approach is really novel at the origin of life section. My sole critics is that "less would have been more": I think the book contains matter well worth writing two books instead of one.
Brock
Mar 12, 2010
A Rigorous New Science
Kauffman's hefty tome is not for the scientifically feint-hearted. It contains some wonderfully informative surveys of molecular biology, evolution, biochemistry and evolutionary biology. While each section and chapter opens with seductively general 'big pictures', it doesn' t take Kauffmann long to knuckle down into the science proper and he's takin no prisoners. This is immersion type knowlege transfer and if you don't have the background (like me) then you will spend plenty of time exploiting the rich resources of the footnotes and bibliographies.
There are over 700 pages of thinking to immerse yourself in and the less than dedicated reader will be washed ashore in next to no time. Something along the lines of Waldrops "Complexity" and one of Kauffman's essay collections might make for some worthwhile and useful background reading if you're not sure that you're ready for this book.
Having said that - this is not just a science book, not by a long stretch. I guess the project of this book is to argue for (and take you through the science of) an entirely new approach to nature itself. That's a pretty serious undertaking and I guess that's why Kauffman backs up his views with so much contemporary science.
It feels very very important. If this book isn't on just about every high school and college reading list in every major science department around the globe, it won't be too much longer until it is....
