Choose one example from the Module 3 required videos you feel is MOST compelling and interesting, and describe WHY you like it in terms of the capacity of “complexity science” to help us better understand the example. Likewise, choose the example you found LEAST compelling, and describe why.
In this assignment, a compelling example is one in which ideas from complexity science provide new insights. Further, this is an argumentative essay, not an opinion essay. You are going to make an argument supporting your choice of most and least compelling. This means you need to be clear and precise about the elements of complexity science we have studied so far: 1) simple rules repeated over and over again can lead to extraordinarily complex patterns and 2) such systems of repeated application of simple rules can be very sensitive to initial conditions and generate chaotic dynamics.
Another key theme that has emerged so far is whether complex patterns generated by mathematical rules are purely inventions of our imaginations that happen to mimic those we see in nature, or do such rules really underlie how nature organizes. In question form, given your knowledge so far: A) do you think complexity theory may be useful in helping us understand how nature works and why things are they way they are? B) Or do you believe it is just a useful tool that might be used to conveniently describe patterns we see? C) Or, finally, do you think there is equal evidence or not yet enough evidence to support either claim?
An effective way to create an argumentative essay is to compare your two examples and describe why one is compelling and the other is not. Does a particular example strongly exhibit key features of a complex system and support one side of the argument above and another seem contrived? This is why you choose the most and least compelling examples, so in comparing them you will see differences and highlight key concepts. In your essay, you should use your evidence to make a case for one of the three choices A, B, or C in your final paragraph.
Grading
This assignment is intended to be thought provoking. You should submit at least 3 paragraphs explaining your answer. Please do not submit more than 4 paragraphs.
Content
Paragraphs 1-3 should address the specific examples you found most and least compelling and detail why. Again, take care to choose specific examples – not things such as “fractals in nature” which are too broad. Using comparisons is always an excellent strategy in constructing your response. The more specific you can be with your examples and comparisons, the better. General statements such as “I think fractals are more relevant in natural systems than in political systems” without detailed justification will not receive much credit. Do NOT merely describe your chosen examples. Rather, focus on discussing why you think they are a good or bad (i.e. compelling or not compelling) example of a complex system, and why complexity science does or does not help us better understand them.
Paragraph 4 should address your opinions regarding the debate in the videos regarding the difference between a mathematical theory that can generate similar patterns we see in reality versus help us understand the ultimate causes for why things are the way they are. Again, it is critical to support your opinions, not just state them. No credit will be given for unsupported opinions.
Style
Important: When we say example, we DO NOT mean the “Nova example”, or the “BBC example”. These are videos, not examples! Rather, we mean very specific examples from within the videos such as “chaos in financial markets”, “chaos in government giving rise to armed conflict”, “chaos and climate change”, “fractals in cardiology”, “self-similarity and scaling in rainforests”, “the Cantor Set and understanding infinity”, “self similarity and a theory of aging”, etc.
When we ask about your thoughts on the debate, we are not just asking your opinion. Avoid sentences beginning with “I think…..”. Better to begin with “Based on (insert some sort of statement about a written source, some evidence, etc.)….. ” or with something along the lines of “The case of the formation of the lungs, kidneys, etc. in humans suggests that in the developmental process, simple rules are used to create tissues, etc., supporting the argument that…..”.
A successful assignment will incorporate complexity science concepts in the answers and use the associated vocabulary effectively. It will not be descriptive but, rather, argumentative.
You must use explicit, specific evidence from class sources only (any readings or videos) to make your arguments. The sort of general argument that might be generated by a large language model AI, e.g. Chat GPT is not sufficient.
***************Required Videos******************
High Anxieties – The Mathematics of Chaos – BBC documentary
Fractales | Hunting the Hidden Dimension
Here is one last short video that will be useful to get your ideas flowing for this assignment.
Benoit Mandelbrott: Fractals and the Art of Roughness (17:03)
