TRANSIMS & EpiSims. Yes, a lot of verbiage has been spent extolling the wonders of the "emergent behaviors" demonstrated by those two simulation systems.
I'm pretty sure that none of us who designed & implemented those two applications ever used any reductionist methodologies during the active life cycles of either of those codes. This afternoon I ran what was, in my estimate, the 1,542'nd EpiSims simulation run that I've done since 1997 when we actually started using the model. My colleagues and I are currently doing a seasonal (as compared to pandemic) influenza study for New York City. I'm pretty sure that by now I've managed to develop the *ability to understand the emergent in terms of the phenomena from and process(es) by which it emerges.* (The italicized are the words you quoted. I don't think I'd ever say anything like that. If I ever do, would someone please just shoot me?) That said: I'm perfectly happy for those who prefer to view the world through reductionist-colored glasses, but none of the EpiSims or TRANSIMS folks fall into that category, as far as I know. Although a few of them are fairly contentious, and as soon as they discover that I placed them in the anti-reductionist camp, they will loudly proclaim the opposite. --Doug On Sun, Sep 7, 2008 at 5:27 PM, Robert Holmes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > > > On Sun, Sep 7, 2008 at 4:45 PM, Douglas Roberts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>wrote: > >> <snip> >> Don't get me wrong: I do not totally reject reductionism. Well, >> actually, I do, as regards to finding any utility in it for myself. But >> other people seem to swear by it, and I am truly happy for them. >> >> ;-} >> >> Cheers, >> >> --Doug >> > > No utility? Really? Check out the third para of the wikipedia entry you > quoted: > > Reductionism does not preclude emergent phenomena but it does imply the > ability to understand the emergent in terms of the phenomena from and > process(es) by which it emerges. > > Sounds an awful lot like your episims and travelsims.... > > Robert > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org >
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College lectures, archives, unsubscribe, maps at http://www.friam.org
