Thanks so much for the memory--one of my first aha! moments as I discovered Complexity science was watching Schelling's segregation ABM.
On Wed, Dec 14, 2016 at 5:29 PM, Stephen Guerin <[email protected] > wrote: > A message from Yaneer: > > > In Memoriam: Thomas C. Schelling > December 13, 2016 > > Tom Schelling, master of the important idea in a complex world, passed > away, Tuesday, December 13, 2016. His work on mutual assured destruction > and on segregation showed he knew what the most important questions were > and had the ability to answer them. In each case we gained new insight as > well as essential aspects of dealing with important real world problems. > > In the former, he identified the way we could survive nuclear > confrontation between the US and Soviet Union, showing the way to stability > through mutual assured destruction---whose recognition would provide not > just deterrence but calming assurance---an incredible force for peaceful > coexistence in a century of the massive conflicts in world wars and > political uncertainty that actions might be taken leading to global > destruction. > > In the latter, he recognized the central insight of complex systems > science, the ability of individual agent choices to result in collective > behavior s. He understood that the connection between them might, and often > is, not clear to a casual observer, but yields to the right kind of > analysis. In this case, the choice of individuals who prefer to live near > others of the same type, manifests in the creation of segregated > communities. > > Both of these contributions to our understanding reflect deep and > important questions, and remarkably clear and (in retrospect) simple > answers. And the answers were, and are, essential to our understanding of > the world around us and the challenges we are facing. > > This spring when I learned of concerns about North Korea from the National > Security Council and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, I spoke with Tom > to learn from his insights into this version of the nuclear confrontation. > He was clear and straightforward in his view that we should not be > concerned, and should not act with concern. After some thought about the > unique conditions of the North Korea confrontation, I unde rstood better > not only the reason for his statements but their wisdom---one of the > greatest destabilizing forces is the concern itself. > > Perhaps we should formally define the difference between intelligent and > wise as the ability to include one's own words into the frame of analysis. > > I am sure I still have much to learn from Tom and will be reading his > papers and books for years to come. Still, I will miss the chance to talk > with him. > > There are many who have gained from his intellectual contributions, there > are few if any who have not benefitted from his wisdom. We are diminished > at his passing. > > Yaneer Bar-Yam, New England Complex Systems Institute, Cambridge, MA > > [image: New England Complex Systems Institute] > > New England Complex Systems Institute > 210 Broadway Suite 101 > Cambridge, MA 02139 > Phone: 617-547-4100 <(617)%20547-4100> > Fax: 617-661-7711 <(617)%20661-7711> > necsi.edu > > --------------- > > To unsubscribe from the cx-web list, please FORWARD this message to > [email protected], EDIT the subject to read "Unsubscribe" and include all > alternate email addresses in the body of your message. Do not reply to this > message. > > > > ============================================================ > FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv > Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College > to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com > FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove > -- Merle Lefkoff, Ph.D. President, Center for Emergent Diplomacy Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA [email protected] mobile: (303) 859-5609 skype: merle.lelfkoff2
============================================================ FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
