The Scientific Context of the Word Chaos In a scientific context, the word chaos has a slightly different meaning than it does in its general usage as a state of confusion, lacking any order. Chaos, with reference to chaos theory, refers to an apparent lack of order in a system that nevertheless obeys particular laws or rules; this understanding of chaos is synonymous with dynamical instability, a condition discovered by the physicist Henri Poincare in the early 20th century that refers to an inherent lack of predictability in some physical systems. The two main components of chaos theory are the ideas that systems - no matter how complex they may be - rely upon an underlying order, and that very simple or small systems and events can cause very complex behaviors or events. This latter idea is known as sensitive dependence on initial conditions, a circumstance discovered by Edward Lorenz (who is generally credited as the first experimenter in the area of chaos) in the early 1960s. Lorenz, a meteorologist, was running computerized equations to theoretically model and predict weather conditions. Having run a particular sequence, he decided to replicate it. Lorenz reentered the number from his printout, taken half-way through the sequence, and left it to run. What he found upon his return was, contrary to his expectations, these results were radically different from his first outcomes. Lorenz had, in fact, entered not precisely the same number, .506127, but the rounded figure of .506. According to all scientific expectations... ... middle of paper ... ...hat those conditions are can never be sufficiently articulated to allow long-range predictions. Although chaos is often thought to refer to randomness and lack of order, it is more accurate to think of it as an apparent randomness that results from complex systems and interactions among systems. According to James Gleick, author of Chaos : Making a New Science, chaos theory is "a revolution not of technology, like the laser revolution or the computer revolution, but a revolution of ideas. This revolution began with a set of ideas having to do with disorder in nature: from turbulence in fluids, to the erratic flows of epidemics, to the arrhythmic writhing of a human heart in the moments before death. It has continued with an even broader set of ideas that might be better classified under the rubric of complexity."
In Jenny Strauss Clay’s “The Generation of Monsters in Hesiod,” she explores the relationship of Greek monsters and gods in order to point out the “natural hierarchy of men and beasts” in Greek culture (Clay 112). As with any hierarchy, differences between people, or in this case “distinguishing features of the divine, the bestial, and the human” suggest that some creatures are superior than others (Clay 108). As Hesiod writes in the Theogony, most monsters are either related to or are descendants of Gaia; however it is their appearances that set them apart from the gods. Despite having a common ancestor, Clay defines all monsters as anomalies. From birth, a monster “does not fit into usual classifications, or transgresses normal limits, and
A complex adaptive system is entity of networks and connections. It can “learn and adapt to change over time” which can change the “structure of the system” (Clancy, Effken, Pesut, 2008). It contains twelve elements: autopoesis or self-regenerization, open exchange, participation in networks, fractals, phase transition between order and chaos, search for fitness peaks, nonlinear dynamics, sensitive dependence, attractors that limit growth, strange attractors of emergence...
... in order to affect the world. Chaos becomes, by the end of the novel, nearly
The development of the Chaos began with a computer and mathematic problems of random data that can calculate and predict patterns that repeat themselves. For example, it picks up the pattern of a person’s heart beat and the pattern of snowflakes hitting the ground. Researchers have found that the patterns may be viewed as “unstable”, “random” and “disorderly” they tend to mimic zig-zags, lightning bolts or electrical currents. This theory has not only been used by physicist, but has also been used by astronomers, mathematicians, biologists, and computer scientists. The Chaos Theory can be applied to predict air turbulence, weather and other underlying parts of nature that is not easily understood (Fiero, p.
Nature and life are full of rhythms. Rhythms in nature include: day and night, seasons, tides, and lunar and solar cycles. Humans are driven by rhythms like: heartbeats, breathing rates, sleep patterns and brain rhythms which include chemical and hormonal secretion. Without rhythms, life would be uncontrollable and chaotic.
I believe that the world is orderly and I base my assumption off of what I know from bible, astronomy, biology, and physics. I do not think the universe is chaotic, I think the world functions uniformly starting from an atomic level.
Randomization, in the form of mutations, provides genetic variation. Evolution itself is not entirely a random process, but the mutations that have appeared throughout history are. Because of this, one would argue that with the summation of many mutations over time, evolution would inevitably create more randomization within the system resulting in an increase in disorder. In an isolated system, the overall entropy would undoubtedly increase following a series of mutations. Because of natural selection (the idea that an organism that is better suited to its environment will survive and produce more offspring than those organisms who are not), it can be said that chance mutations are not the only driving force behind evolution, thus evolution is not entirely a spontaneous process (Williams,
Looking at the world where we live everything in someway is connected. Our world is not simple and in fact consists of multiple complex systems. Some everyday examples of complex systems are the brain, immune system, insect colonies, and even social networks such as Facebook and twitter. So what exactly do all these have in common in order to be a complex system? First is the fact that each one has a large amount of simple components that work together by communication through signals without being under leadership. But not all systems are exactly the same so we can break it down further into chaotic systems, complex adaptive systems, and nonlinear systems. Chaotic systems differ in that they are non-linear and are sensitive to initial conditions. Therefore any uncertainty in the system will not produce an outcome that can be predicted later on. A good example of a chaotic system would be the stock market because the prediction of its outcome is unknown due to its sensitivity to initial conditions. Complex adaptive systems are just like they sound. They are capable of adapting to the environment such as the immune system. It’s white blood cells work together to recognize foreign bodies and create antibodies for future encounters.
It is a complicated term, or set of ideas, that has only emerged as an
“Chaos theory proves that unpredictability is built into our daily lives.”(Crichton 313). Ian Malcolm’s words resolve the book, Jurassic Park, in a very absolute way. Throughout the book, Malcolm, spoke about chaos theory and his self proclaimed “Malcolm Effect” to explain his reasoning in his predictions. Ian Malcolm had predicted the demise of Jurassic Park even before its opening, as well as its multiple problems and difficulties. Malcolm’s theory is evidenced countless times throughout the story of Jurassic Park; dinosaurs are breeding, dinosaurs are escaping, and systems fail.
...s made a mistake and "this sudden illumination (or epiphany) assures us that order and purpose do exist in the universe, even if we cannot fathom the exact nature of that order and purpose"(Markos 39).
Though chaos theory is a relatively new branch of science, its origins date back to the late nineteenth century. In 1887, King Oscar II of Sweden began a contest to promote higher learning and celebrate his sixtieth birthday. Contestants were to answer the question “Is the solar system stable?” To answer this query, Henri Poincaré, a brilliant mathematician, worked on a solution to the three body problem; the three body problem discusses the interactions between three different celestial bodies, such as planets or stars. After applying some of his ideas of topology to the problem, Poincaré encountered chaotic behavior. Unwilling to work with this, Poincaré renounced the problem. His discovery demonstrated that even something simple, such as the reduced model that Poincaré was using, can result in intense complexities. Much later, in the 1960’s, chaos was discovered once again. Edward Lorenz, a meteorologist, made a hobby of running weather systems on his home computer at a time when very few scientists had pers...
A scientific theory is an explanation that is well- substantiated explanation in regards to some aspect of the natural world that is attained through scientific method and is tested numerous times and usually confirmed through vigorous observation and experimentation. The term theory can be seen as a collection of laws which allow you to show some kind of phenomenon. The strength of a scientific theory associated with the diversity of phenomena can explain its elegance and simplicity. However when new evidence is gathered a scientific theory can be changed or even rejected if it does not fit the new findings, in such cases a more accurate theory is formed. Scientific theories are used to gain further
Chaos theory has numerous application including helping explain phenomena or helping to predict the future. Chaos theory is applicable in various fields ranging from weather, business to medicine. Chaos theory explains the reason why it is practically improbable to predict the weather with the current technology as well as providing a way for people to find patterns in the chaotic system of stock exchange. It also helps with the running of organisation by showing what sort of condition is needed for a profitable business as well as helping doctors predict when heart failure may occur. Fractals which is a concept of chaos theory also is portrayed in the natural world in examples such as lightning and neurons in the brains. Chaos theory has
...t. The Chaos Game can be applied to create other fractals and shapes, and is a major part of an entirely separate area of study: chaos theory. The fact that the Sierpinski Triangle transcends the boundaries of fractal and number theory proves that it is an important part of mathematics. Perhaps the Sierpinski Triangle still holds secrets that, if discovered, will change the way we think about mathematics forever.