Classic Complexity: from the Abstract to the Concrete (Exploring Complexity)

With a field so broad in both breadth and depth as that making up the contemporary study of complex systems, it is well nigh impossible to cover all the bases underlying the development of well argued, robust and relevant understanding of these systems. That is one of the reasons why the international journal Emergence: Complexity and Organization has offered a Classical Paper in each issue. Now, in this current volume we have made available in one publication venue the diverse Classical Papers that have been published so far in E: CO. These papers are offered not only to enrich our current understandings by exhibiting the historical background to many of today's leading complexity-based ideas, perspectives, and methods. They are also gathered here to help address some of the difficulties confronting not only complexity thinkers, but for that matter any thinker sincerely trying to grasp the novel situations and novel difficulties we face in modern times. CONTENTS Editorial: On the importance of Classic Papers Kurt A. Richardson & Jeffrey A. Goldstein Section 1: Complexity and Philosophy 1. Emergence Stephen C. Pepper (with an introduction by Jeffrey A. Goldstein) 2. Novelty, Indeterminism, and Emergence W. T. Stace (with an introduction by Jeffrey A. Goldstein) 3. The Philosophic Functions of Emergence Charles A. Bayliss (with an introduction by Jeffrey A. Goldstein) 4. A Form of Logic Suited for Biology Walter M. Elsasser (with an introduction by Jeffrey A. Goldstein) Section 2: Complexity and General Systems Theory 5. Principles of the Self-Organizing System W. Ross Ashby (with an introduction by Jeffrey A. Goldstein) 6. General Systems Theory: The Skeleton of Science Kenneth E. Boulding (with an introduction by Kurt A. Richardson) 7. Science and Complexity Warren Weaver (with an introduction by Ross Wirth) Section 3: Complexity and Organization 8. The Architecture of Complexity Herbert Simon (with an introduction by Paul Cilliers) 9. Futurology a