From Complexity to Life : On The Emergence of Life and Meaning

This book brings together an impressive group of leading scholars in the sciences of complexity, and a few workers on the interface of science and religion, to explore the wider implications of complexity studies. It includes an introduction to complexity studies and explores the concept of information in physics and biology and various philosophical and religious perspectives. Chapter authors include Paul Davies, Greg Chaitin, Charles Bennett, Werner Loewenstein, Paul Dembski, Ian Stewart, Stuart Kauffman, Harold Morowitz, Arthur Peacocke, and Niels H. Gregersen. Contents......Page 8 Contributors......Page 10 1. Introduction: Toward an Emergentist Worldview......Page 16 PART I: DEFINING COMPLEXITY......Page 30 2. Randomness and Mathematical Proof......Page 32 3. How to Define Complexity in Physics, and Why......Page 47 PART II: THE CONCEPT OF INFORMATION IN PHYSICS AND BIOLOGY......Page 58 4. The Emergence of Autonomous Agents......Page 60 5. Complexity and the Arrow of Time......Page 85 6. Can Evolutionary Algorithms Generate Specified Complexity?......Page 106 7. The Second Law of Gravitics and the Fourth Law of Thermodynamics......Page 127 8. Two Arrows from a Mighty Bow......Page 164 PART III: PHILOSOPHICAL AND RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES......Page 188 9. Emergence of Transcendence......Page 190 10. Complexity, Emergence, and Divine Creativity......Page 200 11. From Anthropic Design to Self-Organized Complexity......Page 219 B......Page 248 C......Page 249 E......Page 250 G......Page 251 L......Page 252 N......Page 253 R......Page 254 T......Page 255 Z......Page 256 Pt 1. Defining Complexity. Randomness And Mathematical Proof / Gregory J. Chaitin ; How To Define Complexity In Physics, And Why / Charles H. Bennett -- Pt 2. The Concept Of Information In Physics And Biology. The Emergence Of Autonomous Agents / Stuart Kauffman ; Complexity And The Arrow Of Time / Paul Davies ; Can Evolutionary Algorithms Generate Specified Complexity? / William A. Dembski ; The Second Law Of Gravitics And The Fourth Law Of Thermodynamics / Ian Stewart ; Two Arrows From A Mighty Bow / Werner R. Loewenstein -- Pt 3. Philosophical And Religious Perspectives. Emergence Of Transcendence / Harold J. Morowitz ; Complexity, Emergence, And Divine Creativity / Arthur Peacocke ; From Anthropic Design To Self-organized Complexity / Niels Henrik Gregersen. Edited By Niels Henrik Gregersen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This title brings together a group of scholars in the sciences of complexity, and a few workers on the interface of science and religion, to explore the wider implications of complexity studies. It includes an introduction to complexity studies and explores the concept of information in physics and biology and various philosophical and religious perspectives. Chapter authors include Paul Davies, Greg Chaitin, Charles Bennett, Werner Loewenstein, Paul Dembski, Ian Stewart, Stuart Kauffman, Harold Morowitz, Arthur Peacocke, and Niels H. Gregersen. Brings together a group of scholars in the sciences of complexity, and workers on the interface of science and religion, to explore the implications of complexity studies. This book includes an introduction to complexity studies and explores the concept of information in physics and biology and various philosophical and religious perspectives It takes only a casual observation of the physical universe to reveal that it is awesomely complex.