Processes of Emergence of Systems and Systemic Properties: Towards a General Theory of Emergence, Proceedings of the International Conference, Castel Ivano,Italy, 18-20 Ocotber 2007

This book contains the Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Italian Systems Society. Papers deal with the interdisciplinary study of processes of emergence, considering theoretical aspects and applications from physics, cognitive science, biology, artificial intelligence, economics, architecture, philosophy, music and social systems. Such an interdisciplinary study implies the need to model and distinguish, in different disciplinary contexts, the establishment of structures, systems and systemic properties. Systems, as modelled by the observer, not only possess properties, but are also able to make emergent new properties; while current disciplinary models of emergence are based on theories of phase transitions, bifurcations, dissipative structures, multiple systems and organization.The present volume focuses on both generalizing those disciplinary models and identifying correspondences and new more general approaches. The general conceptual framework of the book relates to the attempt to build a general theory of emergence as a general theory of change, corresponding to Von Bertalanffy's project for a general system theory. Contents......Page 18 Dedication......Page 6 Preface......Page 8 Program Committee......Page 14 Contributing Authors......Page 16 Opening Lecture......Page 24 1. Introduction - Summary of the presentation......Page 26 2.1. Classical notion of coherence......Page 27 2.2. Quantum notion of coherence......Page 29 2.3. Photon statistics (PS)......Page 32 2.4. The laser threshold......Page 34 2.5. The transient laser......Page 38 3.1. Deterministic chaos......Page 39 3.2.1. a) longitudinal case......Page 43 3.2.2. b) transverse case......Page 44 4.1. Perception and control of chaos......Page 46 4.2. From perception to cognition - Creativity......Page 49 Appendix. Haken theory of laser threshold [28,29,30,34]......Page 54 References......Page 55 Emergence in Architecture......Page 58 1. Introduction......Page 60 3. The variable of time and the built environment......Page 61 4. The bonds and values of time......Page 62 5. Architecture and society......Page 63 6. Built environment and landscape......Page 64 7. The existence flow of a settlement system......Page 65 8. Characters of the urban micro-scale......Page 67 10. Project and design......Page 68 11. Self-regulation, consent, project......Page 69 12. Research......Page 70 References......Page 72 1. Introduction......Page 74 2. Two Attitudes......Page 75 3. Human Activity Systems and Organized Spaces......Page 76 5. Architectural Induction and Experiencing Space......Page 77 6. Framing and Architectural Phenomena......Page 79 7. Arena of Inquiry Influences Architecture......Page 80 8. Architectural Emergence......Page 82 9. Systemics of Architecture, Emergence, and Attitude......Page 84 10. Emergence of Trans-disciplinary Architecture......Page 86 11. Summary and Conclusion......Page 87 References......Page 88 1. Introduction......Page 90 2. From the industrialization of building to interoperability in architecture......Page 91 3.1. Cultural origins of methodological equipment and contextual motivations for evolutionary developments......Page 95 3.2. Technologies for modeling data-flows......Page 96 3.3. Paradigms of experimental application......Page 99 4. Conclusions......Page 100 References......Page 101 1.1. Cultural “things” or cultural “heritage”......Page 102 1.2. A new idea of culture: heritage as open system......Page 104 1.3. From integrated cultural systems to cultural districts......Page 106 2. Emergencies between cultural districts and architectural heritage......Page 108 3. From events to processes: integration of preservation and enhancement process with other territorial structures......Page 110 References......Page 111 1. Introduction......Page 114 2. Possible shared definitions of Architecture......Page 115 3. Specific problems in systemic and implications for Architecture......Page 119 References......Page 123 Processes of Emergence in Economics and Management......Page 124 1. Introduction......Page 126 3. The intrapreneurial process as a superposed organizational layer......Page 127 3.1. Two different but highly interdependent systems......Page 128 3.2.1. Top management......Page 129 4. A recurrent and bothering problem......Page 130 5. New concepts in system modeling: multiple systems (MS) and collective beings (CB)......Page 131 6. Applicability of DYSAM......Page 133 Acknowledgments......Page 134 References......Page 135 1. Introduction......Page 136 2.1. The general structure......Page 139 2.2. Agents’ behavior......Page 140 2.3.1. Parallel connection......Page 141 2.3.2. Sequential connection......Page 142 2.3.3. Reciprocal connection......Page 143 2.4. Norms and coordination mechanisms......Page 145 2.5. The methodology and working of the model......Page 147 3. The effects of task interdependence......Page 149 4. The effects of bounded rationality......Page 151 5. Conclusions......Page 155 References......Page 156 1. Introduction......Page 158 2. Systemics connotations of networked-companies......Page 161 3. Networked-company in the Building Industry......Page 164 4. Conclusions......Page 169 References......Page 170 1. Introduction......Page 172 2. Capitalist markets as open systems......Page 173 3. Knowledge as an open system......Page 176 4. Systemic openness and public policy......Page 179 5. Concluding remarks......Page 182 References......Page 183 1. Introduction......Page 186 2. Motivational factors which influence the emergence of individual innovation and idea generation.......Page 188 3. Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation in the idea generation process......Page 190 4. Work characteristics influencing the emergence of the innovation process......Page 193 5.1. The sample......Page 195 5.2. The measure......Page 196 6. The results......Page 197 7. Discussion......Page 200 References......Page 202 1. Introduction......Page 204 2. Usability assessment: Methods and Tools......Page 205 3. A systemic method......Page 209 4. Conclusions......Page 213 References......Page 215 Emergence......Page 216 1. Introduction......Page 218 2. Macroscopic cellular automata......Page 219 2.1. The Minimization Algorithm of the Differences......Page 220 3. Genetic Algorithms......Page 221 4.1. The Lava Flows Model SCIARA-fv......Page 222 4.1.1. Lava flows computation......Page 224 4.2. The Debris Flows Model SCIDDICA-S4c......Page 225 4.2.2. Computation of the “minimizing” debris outflows......Page 226 4.2.4. Energy loss......Page 227 5.1. SCIARA-fv Calibration......Page 228 5.2. SCIDDICA-S4c Calibration......Page 232 6. Conclusions......Page 235 References......Page 236 1. The knowledge life cycle......Page 238 2. A new framework to support KLC......Page 240 3. Conclusion and future work......Page 247 References......Page 249 1. Introduction and background......Page 252 2. On the philosophical approach......Page 253 2.1. Constructing a description......Page 254 3. Implicit generalization......Page 256 4. Psychological experiments......Page 258 4.1. Gestalt as generalization......Page 259 4.2. Grammatical structure of a common sentence......Page 261 5. Conclusion......Page 262 References......Page 263 1. Introduction......Page 264 2.1. An introduction......Page 265 2.2. Specifying the concept of generalization......Page 266 3. What is the opposite of generalization?......Page 268 4. Outline of some classical approaches used for generalizing......Page 269 5. Generalization for systemic properties......Page 272 6. General Theory of Emergence......Page 273 7. Conclusions......Page 276 References......Page 277 1. Introduction......Page 280 2. Conditional events and their probabilities......Page 281 3. Bayes theorem meaning and its applications......Page 282 4. Conclusions......Page 286 References......Page 287 1. Introduction......Page 288 2. Tuning Error......Page 291 3. Planck’s Quantum-Electromagnetic Length (lPlanckE).......Page 292 4. Planck’s Quantum-Gravitational Length (lPlanckG).......Page 294 5. Change of the Radius R of a heavenly Body when its Mass M changes......Page 296 6. Gravitational Planck’s Constant hg......Page 297 7. Stationary States (stationary Orbits) of the solar System......Page 299 8. Limit Mass of a black hole......Page 300 References......Page 303 Emergence in Social Systems......Page 304 1. Introduction......Page 306 2. The general view......Page 307 3.1. Constructivism......Page 308 3.2. Language......Page 309 4. How to have the language to imagine it?......Page 310 5. Having a language for designing. The entry point.......Page 313 5.2. Distinguishing between the composition of elements and the establishment of systems......Page 314 5.3. Acting on a system......Page 315 5.5. Improvement of parts does not always imply improvement of the system......Page 316 5.6. A problem in a component part is a problem for the entire system......Page 317 References......Page 318 1. Introduction......Page 322 2. Background......Page 324 3. Learning and Knowing......Page 326 4. Complexification and Emergence......Page 328 5. Contextual Inquiry......Page 330 6. Conclusions......Page 333 References......Page 334 Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment: Affective Commitment Predictors in a Group of Professionals Maria Santa Ferretti......Page 336 1. Introduction......Page 337 2. Field measures & Targets......Page 340 3. Method......Page 341 3.1. Materials......Page 342 3.3. Analysis of the data......Page 344 4. Results......Page 346 5. Discussion......Page 348 6. Contributions and implications......Page 350 References......Page 351 1. Introduction......Page 354 3. Meaning and method of OC measurement......Page 356 3.1. Measurement variables and instruments......Page 358 4. The organizational climate in a systemic perspective......Page 359 4.1.1. Relationship between meaningful/safety climate and individual outcomes......Page 360 4.1.2. Safety climate as the mediator between job insecurity and safety outcomes......Page 362 4.2. OC survey as an organizational development tool......Page 364 5. Conclusion......Page 366 References......Page 367 1. Introduction......Page 370 2. Method......Page 373 3. Results: rhetorical devices and interpretational repertoires......Page 375 4. Conclusion......Page 382 References......Page 384 Emergence in Artificial Intelligence......Page 386 1. Introduction......Page 388 2. Motivating example......Page 390 3.1.2. TBox and ABox......Page 391 3.1.4. Reasoning......Page 393 3.1.5. Characteristics of DL Semantics......Page 394 3.2. The Example in Relational Databases......Page 395 3.2.1. Characteristics of DB Semantics......Page 397 3.3. The Example within Artificial Neural Networks......Page 398 4. Résumé and Discussion......Page 402 5. Conclusion and further work......Page 404 References......Page 405 1. Introduction......Page 406 2. Phenomena simulation vs. Galilean models......Page 407 3. Bidimensional Turing machines......Page 411 4. Turing thesis as the core hypothesis of an empirical theory of human computation......Page 421 5. Developing the theory......Page 424 6. Concluding remarks - toward a Galilean approach to cognition......Page 427 References......Page 428 1. Introduction......Page 430 2. The Neural Network Model......Page 435 3. Face Image Preprocessing......Page 436 4. The Experimental Design......Page 437 5.1. Experiment 1......Page 438 5.2. Experiment 2......Page 439 5.3. Experiment 3......Page 440 5.4. Experiment 4......Page 441 5.5. Experiment 5......Page 442 6. Conclusions......Page 443 References......Page 445 1. Introduction......Page 448 2. Anticipatory Neurons......Page 450 3. An Example of Dynamical Evolution of a Single Anticipatory Neuron......Page 451 4. Networks of Anticipatory Neurons......Page 452 5. The -Mirror Architecture: Networks......Page 455 6.1. Reinforcement Learning......Page 457 6.3. Other Learning Algorithms......Page 460 8. Conclusions and Future Work......Page 461 References......Page 462 1. Introduction......Page 464 3. The Models......Page 466 3.1. Pessa, Montesanto and Longobardi’s Model (1996)......Page 467 3.2. Bonfiglio’s Model (1999)......Page 468 3.3. Busemeyer and Stout’s Model......Page 469 4. Simulations......Page 472 6. Conclusions......Page 474 References......Page 475 Emergence in Medicine......Page 476 1. Introduction......Page 478 2. Objective and Hypothesis......Page 481 3.3. Instrument......Page 482 4. Results......Page 484 5. Discussion......Page 489 References......Page 493 1. Introduction......Page 496 2. On the threshold of change......Page 497 3. Searching a new epistemology......Page 498 4. Systemics and humanistic ethics......Page 500 5. Systemics and Medicine......Page 504 References......Page 508 1. Introduction......Page 510 2.1. Definition of PTSD......Page 512 2.2. PTSD’s causes and predictors......Page 513 2.3. Epidemiological data and comorbidity......Page 515 3. Preventive and Treatment Strategies for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder......Page 516 3.3. Experiential psychotherapies......Page 518 4. Conclusions......Page 521 References......Page 522 1. Introduction......Page 526 2. Material and methods......Page 528 3.2. Factor Analysis in the total selected group......Page 531 3.3. Factor Analysis in the affective disorder subgroup......Page 534 3.4. Factor Analysis in the Personality Disorder type B subgroup......Page 537 3.5. Factor Analysis in the remaining subgroup......Page 540 3.6. The Discrimanant Analysis between subgroups......Page 542 4. Discussion......Page 544 5. Conclusion......Page 551 References......Page 553 Models and Systems......Page 554 1. Introduction......Page 556 2. Decomposition of systems......Page 557 3. Complexity and decomposition......Page 558 4. Evaluating complexity......Page 559 4.2. Relational indices......Page 560 5. Simulation......Page 562 6. Conclusions......Page 565 References......Page 567 List of symbols......Page 568 1. Introduction......Page 569 2. Closed form equations of universe......Page 571 3. Equations of future expansion......Page 573 4. Energy and missing mass......Page 575 5. Duration of expansion......Page 576 6. Variation of the speed of light......Page 577 7. Temperature......Page 578 8. Diagrams......Page 579 9. Recapitolatory description of mathematical structure......Page 580 10. Conclusions......Page 581 References......Page 583 1. Introduction......Page 584 2. Measure systems and hierarchical levels......Page 585 3. Recursiveness as expression of contextuality......Page 586 4. A recursive pattern for complex systems......Page 588 5. An elementary recursive function......Page 589 6. More complex recursive patterns......Page 590 7. Conclusions......Page 592 References......Page 593 1. Introduction......Page 594 2. About critical infrastructures......Page 596 3. Modeling infrastructures......Page 597 4. Evaluating infrastructure global properties......Page 599 5. Interactions between infrastructures......Page 600 6. Infrastructure control......Page 601 7. The role of human factor......Page 607 8. Systemic Approach and Emergence......Page 608 9. Conclusions......Page 609 References......Page 610 Theoretical Problems of Systemics......Page 612 1. Introduction......Page 614 2. Complex Emergence......Page 615 3. Downward Causation......Page 619 4. Conclusive Remarks......Page 622 References......Page 623 1. Introduction......Page 626 2. Physical models of change......Page 627 3. Beyond TPT......Page 631 4.1. Importance of individuality......Page 633 4.5. Non-equilibrium dynamics......Page 634 4.7. Multi-level hierarchical structure......Page 635 5. Bridging the gap between physics and biology?......Page 636 6. Conclusions......Page 643 References......Page 644 1. Introduction......Page 648 2.1. Structured Interactions......Page 650 3.1. Phase transitions......Page 652 3.2. Organization / Self-organization......Page 653 5. Processes of establishing Acquired Properties (AP)......Page 655 5.1. Acquiring new properties......Page 657 5.2. How to keep acquired properties......Page 658 6. Appendix: The acquired mind......Page 659 7. Conclusions......Page 660 References......Page 661 1. Introduction......Page 664 2. Surface reaction models......Page 666 3. One type of replicator per cell......Page 667 5. Interacting replicators......Page 668 Acknowledgments......Page 670 References......Page 671 1. Introduction......Page 672 2. Random Boolean networks......Page 674 3. Avalanches in gene expression data......Page 675 4. Interactions among random Boolean networks......Page 676 5. Conclusions......Page 678 References......Page 679 1. Introduction......Page 682 2. Derivation of the canonic system equations of the two-body relativistic problem......Page 687 3. Linearized system equations......Page 690 4. A necessary condition for relativistic stability......Page 691 Bibliography......Page 693 Appendix. Eigenvalue analysis and necessary condition for stability......Page 694 1. Introduction......Page 696 2. Recall of the stability conditions for the non-relativistic case......Page 697 3. The stable orbit with minimum potential energy in equilibrium......Page 699 4. Application of the Lyapunov method......Page 700 5. Conclusion......Page 704 6. BIBLIOGRAPHY......Page 705 The Formation of Coherent Domains in the Process of Symmetry Breaking Phase Transitions Emilio Del Giudice, Giuseppe Vitiello......Page 708 1. References......Page 717 Cognitive Science......Page 718 1. Introduction......Page 720 2. Constructivism vs. cognitivism and connectionism......Page 723 3. The mind-body problem......Page 725 4. The codification dispute......Page 727 5. Knowledge transfer......Page 730 6. Conclusions......Page 731 References......Page 732 1. The multidimensionality of human communication......Page 736 2. It’s not true that all is communication......Page 737 3. The problem of requirement of intentionality......Page 738 4. The circularity of the inferences......Page 740 References......Page 743 1. Introduction......Page 746 2.1. “Musica est scientia bene modulandi ... et bene movendi”......Page 748 2.2. The importance of number five......Page 749 2.3. A blanket that is too short......Page 752 3.1. The first move on the chessboard......Page 755 3.2. The game of changes......Page 757 3.3.1. Rhythmic variations rhythmic system......Page 758 3.4. Variations and complex systems of musical organization......Page 759 3.5. Counterpoint......Page 760 3.6. Harmony......Page 762 3.7. Toccatas and Preludes......Page 763 4. Conclusions......Page 765 References......Page 766 1. Introduction......Page 768 2. Figural Effects in the Watercolor Illusion......Page 770 2.1.2. Stimuli......Page 772 2.1.3. Procedure......Page 773 2.1.4. Results......Page 774 2.2. Experiment 2: Watercolor Illusion vs. Relative Orientation......Page 775 2.2.3. Results......Page 776 2.3. Experiment 3: Watercolor illusion vs. Prägnanz......Page 777 2.3.2. Stimuli......Page 778 2.3.3. Results......Page 779 2.4. Experiment 4: Camouflage and Disambiguation......Page 780 2.4.3. Results......Page 781 3. The FACADE neural model of 3D vision and figure-ground segregation......Page 784 References......Page 787 1. Grouping discontinuities......Page 788 2. Grouping continuities......Page 791 3. Ungrouping continuities......Page 792 4. Continuities (real, illusory and/or virtual) with discontinuities along them......Page 793 5. Conclusions......Page 797 References......Page 798 1. Introduction......Page 800 2.2. Materials and Procedure......Page 804 3. Results......Page 806 References......Page 808 1. Introduction......Page 810 2. Innovative behavior......Page 813 3. Support For Innovation......Page 814 4. Conflict and Iwb......Page 816 5.1. The Sample......Page 818 5.2. The measures......Page 819 6. The results......Page 820 7. Discussion and Conclusions......Page 822 References......Page 824 1. System theory and didactics: The constructivist approach to maths education......Page 826 2. Role variables and contextual variables in didactic systems......Page 828 3. Managing contextual variables: Towards a full-blooded systemic perspective on maths education......Page 830 4. An example from our research......Page 832 4.2. Second stage: Individual solution......Page 834 4.3. Third stage: Group discussion......Page 835 4.4. Extending the problem text......Page 836 Acknowledgments......Page 837 References......Page 838 Coherence, complexity and creativity / Fortunato Tito Arecchi -- Environment and architecture - a paradigm shift / Valerio Di Battista -- Emergence of architectural phenomena in the human habitation of space / Arne Collen -- Questions of method on interoperability in architecture / Ezio Arlati, Giorgio Giallocosta -- Comprehensive plans for a culture-driven local development : emergence as a tool for understanding social impacts of projects on built cultural heritage / Stefano Della Torre, Andrea Canziani -- Systemic and architecture : current theoretical issues / Giorgio Giallocosta -- Modeling the 360[symbol] innovating firm as a multiple system or collective being / Véronique Bouchard -- The COD model : simulating workgroup performance / Lucio Biggiero, Enrico Sevi -- Importance of the infradisciplinary areas in the systemic approach towards new company organisational models : the building industry / Giorgio Giallocosta -- Systemic openness of the economy and normative analysis / Paolo Ramazzotti -- Motivational antecedents of individual innovation / Patrizia Picci, Adalgisa Battistelli -- An e-usability view of the web : a systemic method for user interfaces / Vera Stara, Maria Pietronilla Penna, Guido Tascini -- Evolutionary computation and emergent modeling of natural phenomena / R. Rongo [und weitere] -- A new model for the organizational knowledge life cycle / Luigi Lella, Ignazio Licata -- On generalization : constructing a general concept from a single example / Shelia Guberman -- General theory of emergence beyond systemic generalization / Gianfranco Minati -- Uncertainty, coherence, emergence / Giordano Bruno -- Emergence and gravitational conjectures / Paolo Allievi, Alberto Trotta -- Inducing systems thinking in consumer societies / Gianfranco Minati, Larry A. Magliocca -- Contextual analysis. A multiperspective inquiry into emergence of complex socio-cultural systems / Peter M. Bednar -- Job satisfaction and organizational commitment : affective commitment predictors in a group of professionals / Maria Santa Ferretti -- Organizational climate assessment : a systemic perspective / Piergiorgio Argentero, Ilaria Setti -- Environment and urban tourism : an emergent system in rhetorical place identity definitions / Marina Mura -- Different approaches to semantics in knowledge representation / S. David, A. Montesanto, C. Rocchi -- Bidimensional turing machines as Galilean models of human computation / Marco Giunti -- A neural model of face recognition : a comprehensive approach / Vera Stara [und weitere] -- Anticipatory cognitive systems : a theoretical model / Graziano Terenzi -- Decision making models within incomplete information games / Natale Bonfiglio, Simone Percivalle, Eliano Pessa -- Burnout and job engagement in emergency and intensive care nurses / Piergiorgio Argentero, Bianca Dell'olivo -- The "implicit" ethics of a systemic approach to the medical praxis / Alberto Ricciuti -- Post traumatic stress disorder in emergency workers : risk factors and treatment / Piergiorgio Argentero, Bianca Dell'Olivo, Ilaria Setti -- State variability and psychopathological attractors. The behavioural complexity as discriminating factor between the pathology and normality profiles / Pier Luigi Marconi -- Decomposition of systems and complexity / Mario R. Abram -- How many stars are there in heaven? The results of a study of universe in the light of stability theory / Umberto Di Caprio -- Description of a complex system through recursive functions / Guido Massa Finoli -- Issues on critical infrastructures / Mario R. Abram, Marino Sforna -- Downward causation and relatedness in emergent systems : epistemological remarks / Leonardo Bich -- Towards a general theory of change / Eliano Pessa -- Acquired emergent properties / Gianfranco Minati -- The growth of populations of protocells / Roberto Serra [und weitere] -- Investigating cell criticality / R. Serra [und weitere] -- Relativistic stability. Part 1 - Relation between special relativity and stability theory in the two-body problem / Umberto Di Caprio -- Relativistic stability. Part 2 - A study of black-holes and of the Schwarzschild radius / Umberto Di Caprio -- The formation of coherent domains in the process of symmetry breaking phase transitions / Emilio Del Giudice, Giuseppe Vitiello -- Organizations as cognitive systems. Is knowledge an emergent property of information networks? / Lucio Biggiero -- Communication, silence and miscommunication / Maria Pietronilla Penna, Sandro Mocci, Cristina Sechi -- Music : creativity and structure transitions / Emanuela Pietrocini -- The emergence of figural effects in the watercolor illusion / Baingio Pinna, Maria Pietronilla Penna -- Continuities and discontinuities in motion perception / Baingio Pinna, Richard L. Gregory -- Mother and infant talk about mental states : systemic emergence of psychological lexicon and theory of mind understanding / D. Rollo, F. Buttiglieri -- Conflict in relationships and perceived support in innovative work behavior / Adalgisa Battistelli, Patrizia Picci, Carlo Odoardi -- Role variables vs. contextual variables in the theory of didactic systems / Monica Alberti, Lucia Cirina, Francesco Paoli This book contains the Proceedings of the 2007 Conference of the Italian Systems Society. Papers deal with the interdisciplinary study of processes of emergence, considering theoretical aspects and applications from physics, cognitive science, biology, artificial intelligence, economics, architecture, philosophy, music and social systems. Such an interdisciplinary study implies the need to model and distinguish, in different disciplinary contexts, the establishment of structures, systems and systemic properties. Systems, as modeled by the observer, not only possess properties, but are also able to make emergent new properties. While current disciplinary models of emergence are based on theories of phase transitions, bifurcations, dissipative structures, multiple systems and organization, the present volume focuses on both generalizing those disciplinary models and identifying correspondences and new more general approaches. The general conceptual framework of the book relates to the attempt to build a general theory of emergence as a general theory of change, corresponding to Von Bertalanffy's project for a general system theory.