To add to Phil remarks, there seems to be different views on what is an 'agent' in ABM (let's forget the 'what is a model stuff' for now). I distinguish between agents that are intrinsically part of a system, and that exhibit intelligence - either natural human intelligence or weak artificial intelligence. They can evaluate knowledge sufficiency in contexts and can probabilistically anticipate and adapt to perturbations. Compare this to how others refer to agents - or what I call automata - as deterministic or probabilistic, rules based entities that act within a system. If these agents or automata exist outside the system, providing data or modulation of the system, these elements are referred to as actors. Of course, I am one of 'those' model creating and simulating folks - so be forewarned. Ken
_____ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Phil Henshaw Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:09 PM To: 'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group' Subject: Re: [FRIAM] Agent Based Modeling's Role in Understanding Complexity Well, there's a sort of a minority 'out crowd' kind of view, that what ABM's let you see you wouldn't otherwise is how nature is behaving that ABM's aught to emulate but can't for various general and specific reasons. The idea that playing with models suggests new ways to play with models is still there in this minority view, it's just that the purpose of that is quite different. Phil Henshaw ¸¸¸¸.·´ ¯ `·.¸¸¸¸ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 680 Ft. Washington Ave NY NY 10040 tel: 212-795-4844 e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] explorations: www.synapse9.com <http://www.synapse9.com/> -- "it's not finding what people say interesting, but finding what's interesting in what they say" -- -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, March 12, 2008 4:44 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [FRIAM] Agent Based Modeling's Role in Understanding Complexity I have just started reading Friam email and hope to participate in an upcoming Barcamp. I want to understand better the promise of using ABM in understanding complexity. I heard, I think it was Nicholas Thompson, say that what he likes about ABM is that it allows him to see things he wouldnt be able to see otherwise. (Forgive me Nick, if I got that wrong) This potential is what interests me but what things does it allow to be seen that is what I want to knowthat is the conversation I would like to engage. Almost everything allows something else to be seen in a new light. I want to know if ABM allows new understanding in the way say dreams and dreaming allows us to explore and understand ourselves and each other in a way we wouldnt be able to do otherwise or does ABM allow us to see something more like the numerical result of p divided out for 10 years. That is does ABM allow us to do things we dont have the interest or patience to spend our time doing. Both can be useful but what is it we are looking for? Can ABM bring us closer together in understanding each other? How? In what way? Best wishes, Ann Racuya-Robbins Founder and CEO World Knowledge Bank® www.wkbank.com
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