Ah . . . the Zen of Complexity. (Or, is that the Complexity of Zen?)
What about continuous multi-directionality of information flow as each agent / entity continuously scans its horizons, assigns meanings to identified patterns (accurately or not!), sends that out over its network(s) and adapts its behavior according to the degree of perturbation? (Thus also impacting the behavior of the larger systems within which it is nested, which may in turn engender pushback or other repressive adaptations.) Further, I would suggest that in Complex Adaptive Social Systems (the kind we all live and work in) structures generate patterns of behavior, but patterns can also be structures. (To complicate it further, structures can also be seen as the 'physical' manifestation of relationships among the agents, continually arising, being present and operational for a time, then condensing and dissolving to make way for new relationships and structures.) This aligns with the observation by Fontana and others that, initially, agents shape networks. Later, networks shape agents, often to the point that the agents can be exchanged in significant numbers without substantially altering the behavior of the system. The classic example of this is how change initiatives in organizations so often excite the organism's 'immune response' which then stamps out the invading idea / carrier. At that stage, the question (in my mind) becomes, 'If the system's reinforcement of its patterns have become the dominant initial condition, what then are the high leverage interventions we can take to alter the system's behavior?' On 6/3/07, Tom Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Robert: It seems to me that there is usually (always?) bi-directionality involved in a dynamic system, especially between the individual and the collective. The collective often (Usually? Always?) provides a context that generates and governs data flow, a time frame, rugged landscapes or not, etc. Such data flows can hinder or enhance the individual's decisions and actions and, possibly, those of the collective. -Tom On 6/3/07, Robert Howard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Interesting paper! > > I do like seeing the phrase: > > > > Individual-based models (IBMs) allow researchers to study how system > level properties emerge from the adaptive behaviour of individuals > > > > The collective presupposes the individual. > > Information and properties of the part flow to the whole—not the other > way around. > > The cause-and-effect arrow of implication is one-way. > > > > Robert Howard > Phoenix, Arizona > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] *On > Behalf Of *Douglas Roberts > *Sent:* Friday, June 01, 2007 11:25 AM > *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group > *Subject:* [FRIAM] Fwd: ABM > > > > FRIAMers, > > I received this today from several of my co-workers and thought I'd pass > it on. > > I still can't help but feeling that in general, *way* too many words are > being used to describe ABM (and IBM) methodologies. The underlying concept > of object-oriented software design as the basis for ABM simulation > architecture is just so straight forward and intuitive that I am repeatedly > amazed at how people continue to make such a big, mysterious deal out of it. > > > But, I suppose that's just me, and my opinion... > > --Doug > > -- > Doug Roberts, RTI International > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > 505-455-7333 - Office > 505-670-8195 - Cell > > > **************************************************** > > This is a very interesting resource re: Agent Based Modeling. > > > > http://www.openabm.org/site/ > > > > Note also the current efforts re: ODD (Overview, Design Concepts and > Details) –based descriptions (cf. attached manuscript). > > > > > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org > -- ========================================== J. T. Johnson Institute for Analytic Journalism -- Santa Fe, NM USA www.analyticjournalism.com 505.577.6482(c) 505.473.9646(h) http://www.jtjohnson.com [EMAIL PROTECTED] "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." -- Buckminster Fuller ========================================== ============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
