Symmetry And Complexity: The Spirit And Beauty Of Nonlinear Science

Description

Cosmic evolution leads from symmetry to complexity by symmetry breaking and phase transitions. The emergence of new order and structure in nature and society is explained by physical, chemical, biological, social and economic self-organization, according to the laws of nonlinear dynamics. All these dynamical systems are considered computational systems processing information and entropy. Are symmetry and complexity only useful models of science or are they universals of reality? Symmetry and Complexity discusses the fascinating insights gained from natural, social and computer sciences, philosophy and the arts. With many diagrams and pictures, this book illustrates the spirit and beauty of nonlinear science. In the complex world of globalization, it strongly argues for unity in diversity. Cover page......Page 1 Title Page......Page 4 ISBN 9812561927......Page 5 Preface......Page 6 Contents (with page links)......Page 10 Introduction......Page 12 1.1 Cultural and Cosmic Harmony......Page 34 1.2 Cultural and Cosmic Diversity......Page 59 2 Symmetry and Complexity in Mathematics......Page 74 2.1 Symmetry and Group Theory......Page 75 2.2 Symmetry Breaking and Bifurcation Theory......Page 94 2.3 Complexity, Nonlinearity and Fractals......Page 110 3 Symmetry and Complexity in Physical Sciences......Page 118 3.1 Symmetry in Physics......Page 121 3.2 Symmetry Breaking and Phase Transitions......Page 158 3.3 Complexity, Attractors and Dynamical Systems......Page 169 4.1 Symmetry in Chemistry......Page 182 4.2 Symmetry Breaking and Chirality......Page 195 4.3 Complexity, Dissipation and Nanosystems......Page 201 5.1 Symmetry in Biology......Page 210 5.2 Symmetry Breaking and Evolution......Page 221 5.3 Complexity and Biodiversity of Life......Page 234 6.1 Symmetry, Social Balance, and Economic Equilibrium......Page 250 6.2 Symmetry Breaking and Socio-economic Transitions......Page 259 6.3 Complexity and Sociodiversity of Globalization......Page 270 7.1 Symmetry and Complexity in Information Dynamics......Page 284 7.2 Symmetry and Complexity in Computational Dynamics......Page 295 8.1 The Philosophy of Symmetry and Complexity......Page 340 8.2 The Beauty of Symmetry and Complexity......Page 368 1......Page 400 2......Page 402 3......Page 404 4......Page 410 5......Page 413 6......Page 418 7......Page 423 8......Page 428 Subject Index (with page links)......Page 436 Name Index (with page links)......Page 446