What is complex system theory?
It is a field that deals with systems composed of many interacting units often called "agents". There is no precise technical definition of a "complex system". But the accepted definition is:
"complex system is a system of interacting parts that display emergent behavior"
Let's start with the definition of a system.
System
A system is a collection of interacting elements called agents. A system maybe complicated but is not necessarily complex. There are essential properties of a system to be called complex systems.
For a system to be considered a complex system it has to satisfy some characteristics.
Characteristic of complex systems
- Complex collective behaviour, consist of large interacting agents following simple rules (their numbers)
- Self-organizing - emergence is not due to a central controller. (their time scale)
- Exhibit emergence, a self-organizing collective behavior difficult to predict from the behavior of the individual agent.
- Signal and Information processing/interaction: all these systems produce and use information and signals from both their internal and external (their strength)
- Adaptation: the system adapts – they change their behaviour to improve their chances of survival or success – through learning or evolutionary processes. (their learning rate)
And to give you an idea of what a complex system really is, its necessary to give some examples.
Example of complex systems:
- Condensed matter systems
- Ecosystems, Economy, and Financial market
- The brain and immune system
- Granular material
- Road traffic
- Insect colonies
- Flocking and schooling behavior in birds or fish, the internet, Human societies
Written with all the love in the world: @sinbad989
