Complex Adaptive Systems: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life: An Introduction to Computational Models of Social Life

by John H. Miller and Scott E. Page

Book Overview

This book provides the first clear, comprehensive, and accessible account of complex adaptive social systems, by two of the field's leading authorities. Such systems--whether political parties, stock markets, or ant colonies--present some of the most intriguing theoretical and practical challenges confronting the social sciences. Engagingly written, and balancing technical detail with intuitive explanations, Complex Adaptive Systems focuses...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691127026
• ISBN13: 9780691127026
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 284 Pages
• Weight: 0.97 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.2" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

This book is a great way to be introduced to the field

This textbook aims at introducing a relatively new and emerging scientific approach, complex adaptive systems. Simply stated, we're talking about complex systems in the sense that their dynamic is far too complex or chaotic to be modeled using analytical equations. Examples of such systems are social phenomena including immigration patterns and segregation, biological patterns such as bees behavior and others. The underlying assumption is that the system under review is too complex to be modeled using mathematical tools, and/or are too complex to conduct laboratory experiments with. The new method introduced in this book talks about modeling a very simple system of interacting entities (agents), with very simple micro behavior rules, letting the system run and observing the emerging macro-behavior of the system as a whole. The book is a great textbook. Its flow of topics is in the correct order to taking the reader from the problem of why this approach is needed, through talking openly about the widespread criticism of this approach and tries answering it in a logical and intelligent way. It then continues to explaining what is a model and how to construct one and off to some examples that show other important corner stones of the field. I couldn't ask for a better arrangement of such book. The book is relatively easy to follow and can be used as an undergraduate textbook or for researchers who look for a good introduction to the field. Some minor problems that I stumbled upon while reading are as follow: (1) chapter 5 is extremely important as it tries to discuss the approach's criticism, however the arguments wasn't always convincing. Specifically, I would like to see some examples of problems X that are given to the neoclassical theorists, and see some discussions on their inability to deal with them and how this approach can cope with them. (2) The research problems that are introduced are very simple (as also stated by the authors themselves), I think that another chapter with two or three examples of real problems would make this book more valuable for the more knowledgeable readers (e.g. some of Epstein works). (3) After doing a lot of reading on that topic I am still amazed to find new terminology to similar ideas I think the field will mature and be more comprehensive to newcomers if the terminology will be standardize. Overall, this book provides a great introduction to the field, easy to follow, great arrangement of topics. Highly recommended.

complex systems applied to society

Miller and Page have written an excellent, very accessible introduction to complex systems as applied to social phenomena. They are especially careful in discussing inferences based on computer simulations. Since any computer simulation is an extreme reduction of real social interactions, it's necessary to be careful that a comparison between two simulations captures a principled difference. For example, Miller & Page describe two versions of the forest fire model. In the first version all trees are likely to grow in an available spot with the same probability, while in the second version the trees can have individual inhieritable probabilities of growth. The difference in principle is a differene in the basic abilities of the individual agents (trees). In this example the average number of trees is significantly higher in the second case.

very good introduction to the subject

A nice introduction material. You will learn how complex phenomena are currently studied . I will use this book as an intro material to complex systems in my economics course. My only complain is that the book scarcelly discuss aplications in social sciences!!! I have to use specific articles with applications for that. the author should supress the subtitle. but it is still an excellent book.