Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey

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FYSE1282A-S12

Chaos, Complexity, Self-Org

Chaos, Complexity, and Self-Organization
How does the complex emerge from the simple? Can complex phenomena, such as life and consciousness, be reduced to a purely physical description in terms of “fundamental particles” interacting through “fundamental forces”? Are there phenomena so complex that they cannot be reduced to a more fundamental level? Questions such as these lie at the heart of complexity science, a new conceptual framework for understanding emergent complexity in the natural and social sciences. Texts will include James Gleick, Chaos, and M. Mitchell Waldrop, Complexity. Students will learn to write simple simulation programs using Mathematica software. Students with high school algebra, pre-calculus, and some familiarity with computer programming will be comfortable with the content of this course. 3 hrs. sem.
Course Reference Number (CRN):
22310
Subject Code:
FYSE
Course Number:
1282
Section Identifier:
A

Course

FYSE 1282

All Sections in Spring 2012

Spring 2012

FYSE1282A-S12 Seminar (Dunham)