Peggy, I think a possible confusion is that changing "the environment" does not necessarily produce a top-down effect. The terminology is too fuzzy. For example, you can easily take a model of fish schooling, which will look quite a bit like fish in water, then change some parameters so it is like they are in oil. The schools will look different. However, all the effects will still be the result of micro-interactions of each fish with it's immediate environment - you just have different bottom-up effects. Because I'm not sure how to tell which changes in the environment would qualify as top-down, that's about the best I can offer.
Does that make any sense? Eric On Sun, Nov 14, 2010 12:35 PM, peggy miller <[email protected]> wrote: > > >responding to Nick's question on what I meant on my emergence question: > >What I am wondering related to emergent behavior patterns is whether, for example, with the "flocking syndrome", if put into a different top-down environment, would it possibly retain the flocking characteristics, but shift them to flock with others, or look for other entities to flock with -- or whether the tendency to flock itself would go away. > >This relates to questions, thoughts I have, about how if one believes that humans have flocking characteristics (some of them) (as I do believe) then if environmental factors stop ability to communicate or somehow alter ability of those active flockers to flock in groups they are used to, (let's say, for argument, to try to bring about progressive change that helps the planet) will they simply a) regroup for different battles to push for/with; b)stop regrouping; c) get new types to group for planetary battles. > >So I wondered if studies on shifting top-down impacts on emergence behavior exist. > >Peggy Miller >Missoula, Mt. > >From: "Nicholas Thompson" <<#>> > >To: "'The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group'" <<#>> >Date: Sat, 13 Nov 2010 12:14:40 -0700 >Subject: Re: [FRIAM] emergence -- studies on "top down" limitations > > > >Peggy, > > > > > >I >felt I “ought” to be able to answer this question … note the use of >modal language. ( My sense of obligation and five dollars will get you >a [small] cup of coffee in any restaurant in Santa Fe.) But I am not >sure I quite understood your question. Is there a particular situation >to which the question applies that you could describe to me? It might >be easier to answer in the particular. > > > > > >Nick > > > > > >From: <#> [mailto:<#>] On Behalf Of peggy miller >Sent: Saturday, November 13, 2010 11:12 AM >To: <#> >Subject: [FRIAM] emergence -- studies on "top down" limitations > > > Since >"top-down" impacts emergent behavior, have there been studies that take >the same number and types of entities that are known to have emergent >behavior of some predictable form -- like flock of set type of birds, >and systematically change the "top" environment those entities exist in >to study whether it impacts the emergent behavior that forms? > >Thanks for any input from you all. >Peggy Miller > > > > >-- >>Peggy Miller, owner/OEO >>Highland Winds >>Art, Photography, Herbs and Writings >>406-541-7577 (home/office/shop) > > > > ============================================================ >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 > Eric Charles Professional Student and Assistant Professor of Psychology Penn State University Altoona, PA 16601
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