Qualitative Complexity: Ecology, Cognitive Processes and the Re-Emergence of Structures in Post-Humanist Social TheoryOffering a critique of the humanist paradigm in contemporary social theory, Qualitative Complexity is the first comprehensive sociological analysis of complexity theory. Drawing from sources in sociology, philosophy, complexity theory, 'fuzzy logic', systems theory, cognitive science and evolutionary biology, John Smith and Chris Jenks present a new series of interdisciplinary perspectives on the sociology of complex, self-organizing structures. |
Other editions - View all
Qualitative Complexity: Ecology, Cognitive Processes and the Re-emergence of ... John Smith,Chris Jenks No preview available - 2007 |
Common terms and phrases
adaptation andthe asthe attractors autoecoorganisation autopoiesis autopoietic become behaviour bythe causality chaos characteristic Cilliers closure cognition complexity theory components concept connectionism connectionist consciousness consequences construction contentspecific contingency Cosmides critical crucial culture Dennett Derrida Descartes determinism difference differentiation discourse dissipative structure distinction doesnot dynamic ecoautoorganisation ecological emergent energy entropy environment environmental epistemology equilibrium evolution evolutionary evolutionary psychology evolved example formal Foucault function fundamental Heidegger homeodynamic human humanist ibid identity insists interaction inthe inthis isan isnot isthat isthe itis Kant Kant’s language limited Luhmann Maturana memetic nonlinear notion ofcomplexity ofthe onthe ontology organisation organism outcomes phenomena phenomenology philosophy political position possible post postmodernism poststructuralism precisely Prigogine Prigogine’s processes qualitative radical constructivism randomness relation relationship representation representationalism requirement self selforganisation semiotic sense simply social sociology specific strategy structures thatis thatthe thermodynamics Thisis Tooby and Cosmides topology tothe Varela whilst withthe Wolfe’s