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Objects that make objects: the population dynamics of structural complexity
James P Crutchfield1, Olof Görnerup
1Center for Computational Science and Engineering and Department of Physics, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA. chaos@cse.ucdavis.edu
Journal of the Royal Society, Interface
|July 20, 2006
Summary
This study introduces epsilon-machines to model object evolution, revealing that structural complexity arises spontaneously through hierarchical organization and general individuals. This facilitates emergent complexity in dynamical systems.
Area of Science:
- Complex Systems
- Evolutionary Biology
- Theoretical Physics
Background:
- Understanding the emergence of structural complexity is a fundamental challenge in various scientific domains.
- Previous models often lack the generality or tractability to capture the full scope of evolutionary processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel, tractable model for analyzing the evolutionary emergence of structural complexity.
- To investigate how complexity arises in systems of interacting objects over evolutionary time.
Main Methods:
- Development of a general model of interacting objects, termed epsilon-machines.
- Analysis of the population dynamical system resulting from object interactions.
- Examination of emergent complexity across multiple organizational scales.
Main Results:
- Demonstration that structural complexity emerges at distinct organizational scales during evolution.
- Identification of spontaneous creation of structural hierarchies as a dominant evolutionary trend.
- Observation that low-complexity, general individuals facilitate increased organization.
Conclusions:
- The proposed epsilon-machine model provides a framework for understanding the evolution of complexity.
- Emergent structural hierarchies and generalist individuals are key drivers of organizational complexity.
- The findings offer insights into the fundamental principles governing complex adaptive systems.