Simply Complexity
Simply Complexity
Neil Johnson is the head of a new inter-disciplinary research group in Complexity at the University of Miami in Florida. He was previously Professor of Physics and co-director of research collaboration into Complexity at Oxford University. He does research on a wide variety of real-world Complex Systems, and is an author of Financial Market Complexity (Oxford University Press, 2003). He enjoys the complex things in life, like overcrowded bars and the fastest route home from work.
Simply Complexity
A Clear Guide to Complexity Theory
Neil F. Johnson
A Oneworld Book
First published in hardcover by oneworld Publications as Two’s Company, Three is Complexity 2007
First published in trade paperback as Simply Complexity 2009
Reprinted 2009, 2010
This ebook edition published by Oneworld Publications 2011
Copyright © Neil Johnson 2007
All rights reserved
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library
ISBN 978–1–78074–049–2
Typeset by Jayvee, Trivandrum, India
Cover design by D. R. ink
Oneworld Publications
185 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7AR
England
Learn more about Oneworld. Join our mailing list to find out about our latest titles and special offers at: www.oneworld-publications.com Contents
Preface
PART 1: What exactly is Complexity Science?
Chapter 1: Two’s Company, Three is Complexity
1.1 A definition, of sorts
1.2 Complexity in action
1.3 Why is my own life so complex?
1.4 The key components of Complexity
1.5 Complexity: the Science of all Sciences
Chapter 2: Disorder rules, OK?
2.1 Another day at the office
2.2 If things can get worse, they probably will
2.3 We need feedback
2.4 Life is just a pocket of order
2.5 Our Universe’s bleak future
2.6 Air, air everywhere – we hope
2.7 Our biased world
Chapter 3: Chaos and all that jazz
3.1 Dealing with office dynamics
3.2 Systematic interns, and careless ones
3.3 Don’t worry, it’s just chaos
3.4
Neil Johnson is the head of a new inter-disciplinary research group in Complexity at the University of Miami in Florida. He was previously Professor of Physics and co-director of research collaboration into Complexity at Oxford University. He does research on a wide variety of real-world Complex Systems, and is an author of Financial Market Complexity (Oxford University Press, 2003). He enjoys the complex things in life, like overcrowded bars and the fastest route home from work.
Simply Complexity
A Clear Guide to Complexity Theory
Neil F. Johnson
A Oneworld Book
First published in hardcover by oneworld Publications as Two’s Company, Three is Complexity 2007
First published in trade paperback as Simply Complexity 2009
Reprinted 2009, 2010
This ebook edition published by Oneworld Publications 2011
Copyright © Neil Johnson 2007
All rights reserved
Copyright under Berne Convention
A CIP record for this title is available from the British Library
ISBN 978–1–78074–049–2
Typeset by Jayvee, Trivandrum, India
Cover design by D. R. ink
Oneworld Publications
185 Banbury Road
Oxford OX2 7AR
England
Learn more about Oneworld. Join our mailing list to find out about our latest titles and special offers at: www.oneworld-publications.com Contents
Preface
PART 1: What exactly is Complexity Science?
Chapter 1: Two’s Company, Three is Complexity
1.1 A definition, of sorts
1.2 Complexity in action
1.3 Why is my own life so complex?
1.4 The key components of Complexity
1.5 Complexity: the Science of all Sciences
Chapter 2: Disorder rules, OK?
2.1 Another day at the office
2.2 If things can get worse, they probably will
2.3 We need feedback
2.4 Life is just a pocket of order
2.5 Our Universe’s bleak future
2.6 Air, air everywhere – we hope
2.7 Our biased world
Chapter 3: Chaos and all that jazz
3.1 Dealing with office dynamics
3.2 Systematic interns, and careless ones
3.3 Don’t worry, it’s just chaos
3.4