Interdisciplinary Approaches to Nonlinear Complex Systems [Paperback]

Nonlinear dynamics is now recognized as playing a crucialrole in a wide variety of disciplines. But what is only justbeginning is the important process of cross fertilizationand transfer of knowledge and expertise from one area toanother. This book is intended to promote this process whichwill undoubtedly contribute greatly to furthering ourunderstanding of complex systems. Contributions areprovided by leading experts from the areas of sociology,cognitive science, chemistry, physiology, ecology,economics, neural networks and physics.Nonlinear dynamics is now recognized as playing a crucialrole in a wide variety of disciplines. But what is only justbeginning is the important process of cross fertilizationand transfer of knowledge and expertise from one area toanother. This book is intended to promote this process whichwill undoubtedly contribute greatly to furthering ourunderstanding of complex systems. Contributions areprovided by leading experts from the areas of sociology,cognitive science, chemistry, physiology, ecology,economics, neural networks and physics.I General Aspects of Complex Systems.- Synergetics as a Strategy to Cope with Complex Systems.- Evolution, Creativity and Intelligence in Complex Systems.- Philosophical Foundations of Nonlinear Complex Systems.- II Mathematical Models of Populations and Societies.- Diversity and Collective Action.- On the Application of Synergetics to Social Systems.- Emergent Behavior in Insect Societies: Global Oscillations, Chaos and Computation.- Collective Dynamics in Models of Communicating Populations.- III Complex Systems in Social Sciences and Psychology.- From Social Engineering to Synergetics On Metaphors Models and Reality.- Social Order. From Individual Activity to Functional Cooperation.- The Significance of Nonlinear Phenomena for the Investigation of Cognitive Systems.- Pattern Formation in Complex Cognitive Processes.- IV ComplexlsŒ