München 2009 – scientific programme

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SYKO: Komplexität

SYKO 1: Complexity

SYKO 1.5: Plenary Talk

Monday, March 9, 2009, 15:40–16:15, A140

Challenges of Complexity in Natural, Technical and Economic Sciences — •Klaus Mainzer — Carl-von-Linde-Akademie, TU München, Arcisstr. 21, 80333 München

The theory of complex dynamical systems is an interdisciplinary methodology to model nonlinear processes in nature, economy and society. In the age of globalization, it is the answer to increasing complexity and sensitivity of human life and civilization (e.g., life science, environment and climate, globalization, information flood). Complex systems consist of many microscopic elements (molecules, cells, organisms) interacting in nonlinear manner and generating macroscopic order. Self-organization means the emergence of macroscopic states by the nonlinear interactions of microscopic elements. Chaos and randomness, growth and innovations are examples of macroscopic states modeled by phase transitions in critical states. The models aim at explaining and forecasting their dynamics. In the case of randomness and chaos, there are restrictions to compute the macrodynamics of complex systems, even if we know all laws and conditions of their local activities. Future cannot be forecast in the long run, but dynamical trends (e.g., order parameters) can be recognized and influenced ("bounded rationality").

Literature: K. Mainzer, Thinking in Complexity. The Computational Dynamics of Matter, Mind, and Mankind, 5th enlarged ed. Springer: Berlin/Heidelberg/ New York 2007; K. Mainzer, Symmetry and Complexity. The Spirit and Beauty of Nonlinear Science, World Scientific: Singapore 2005; K. Mainzer, Komplexität, UTB-Profile 2008