On Fri, Jul 10, 2009 at 08:43:27AM -0700, glen e. p. ropella wrote: > > True, mass is _linear_ as is volume and many other characteristics > (because of the way they're measured). But if nonlinear == emergent, > then what's the point of the less well-defined term "emergent"? > > -- > glen e. p. ropella, 971-222-9095, http://agent-based-modeling.com >
Nonlinearity is necessary for stronger forms of emergence than mere resultant emergence. However, not all nonlinear properties are emergent properties. Example, the force term in a harmonic oscillator is definitely nonlinear, but it is part of syntactic structure of the system, so is definitely not emergent. BTW - where is Jochen Fromm in this debate? -- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prof Russell Standish Phone 0425 253119 (mobile) Mathematics UNSW SYDNEY 2052 [email protected] Australia http://www.hpcoders.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ============================================================ 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
