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R‐Theory: A Synthesis of Robert Rosen's Relational Complexity
Author(s) -
Kineman John J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
systems research and behavioral science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.371
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1099-1743
pISSN - 1092-7026
DOI - 10.1002/sres.2156
Subject(s) - relation (database) , computer science , epistemology , causal model , cognitive science , artificial intelligence , mathematics , psychology , philosophy , data mining , statistics
Mathematical biologist Robert Rosen proposed a revolutionary new way of understanding life in terms of causal ‘entailments’ and modelling ‘relations’, two main theory tracks in his work. His work, however profound in quality and elegant in explanation, remained incomplete during his lifetime and in need of synthesis. Such a synthesis was completed in 2011. The two main lines of reasoning were combined to define a new analytical methodology that is fully relational. This paper discusses the main implications of that synthesis, using the name ‘R‐theory’ to distinguish it from Rosen's original work. R‐theory describes a fully closed causal unit of nature, called the ‘holon’, which is a Rosen modelling relation between category theoretic mappings (thus integrating both concepts). R‐theory provides a new method of analysis that can relate whole and fractioned (mechanistic) aspects of nature. As such, it offers an approach for understanding complex phenomena at the edge of classical domains, which includes quantum, relativistic, living, social and cognitive phenomena. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.