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Chaos and Chaos; Complexity and Hierarchy
Author(s) -
Cottam Ron,
Ranson Willy,
Vounckx Roger
Publication year - 2014
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.2288
Subject(s) - hierarchy , unification , property (philosophy) , scale (ratio) , chaotic , natural (archaeology) , computer science , chaos (operating system) , complex system , hierarchical organization , epistemology , theoretical computer science , artificial intelligence , philosophy , geography , law , political science , computer security , archaeology , programming language , cartography
We address the characteristic complexity of large multi‐scale systems. Starting from the concept of perceptual scale, we present an ecosystemic model‐hierarchy description, which we believe is more applicable to nature than conventional hierarchical representations. Such a hierarchy, or holarchy , may be ontological or epistemological, but either case presents a layered structure alternating between local scales and locally‐scaled ecosystems that are characterized by scale‐dependent chaotic properties. Unification of a hierarchical system implies the generation of a scale‐independent property referred to as hyperscale, within which access to the different partially‐isolated system scales is transparent. We propose that this framework can be used to characterize all Natural entities, from inorganic and organic to human organizations. We conclude with an examination of processes of emergence and its counterpart demergence. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.