Chaotics

Rating:
Summary: Isn't this just another postmodernist buzzwords book?
Review: I'd like to read the opinions of some fluid dynamicists, fractal geometers and quantitative ecologists on the ideas put forth in this book.

Thanks in advance.

Rating:
Summary: Isn't this just another postmodernist buzzwords book?
Review: This book takes an interesting look at chaos theory and complex systems theory (especially self-organizing behaviors) and promotes a new theory, Chaotics. Chaotics is seen as a bridge between the shortcomings of chaos theory and ideas surrounding complexity in today's rapidly changing world. Using chaotics, the authors look at a wide range of areas in which the application of the theory can be used to provide new insights into how current, degrading societal and business systems can be re-thought in order to facilitate the saving of or recreation of those failing systems.

The authors spend a great deal of time in the first chapters of the book explaining their view of chaos theory and complex systems theory. This examination includes an interesting look at the history of not only chaos and complexity, but the deterministic scientific theories which, they say, have led to the decay of many of our world's current societal, educational, and environmental beliefs. Building upon this foundation, proposals are offered for re-thinking the way problems within these decaying systems are examined. Examples include viewing unemployment as a natural state of one's working life, an educational system shaped by the shrinking time-space compression of today's technological environment, and the possibility that 'advances' realized by today's information driven countries may, in fact, be in declines and not advances.

In terms of education, which is my focus, the implications for using chaotics to address the monumental changes required of this aging and inefficient system may be significant. That our educational systems may be pushed towards more effective and efficient methods of operations by orchestrating changes within it, using chaotics, is certainly intriguing. That our educational systems need to undergo radical change if we are going to attempt to educate our children is not in question. Inserting chaotics into our education al change strategies is neither 'new fangled' nor 're-done', and could have a dramatic impact upon how we begin turning the bow of this monstrous ship we call education in America (for real).

A bit of a tough read, Chaotics is certainly worth a close examination by anyone new to chaos or complexity theories. The ideas put forth in this book are worthy of consideration and will minimally alter the reader's perspective of change, happenstance and decay within complex systems.

Rating:
Summary: Chaotics: Implications for Education
Review: This book takes an interesting look at chaos theory and complex systems theory (especially self-organizing behaviors) and promotes a new theory, Chaotics. Chaotics is seen as a bridge between the shortcomings of chaos theory and ideas surrounding complexity in today's rapidly changing world. Using chaotics, the authors look at a wide range of areas in which the application of the theory can be used to provide new insights into how current, degrading societal and business systems can be re-thought in order to facilitate the saving of or recreation of those failing systems.

The authors spend a great deal of time in the first chapters of the book explaining their view of chaos theory and complex systems theory. This examination includes an interesting look at the history of not only chaos and complexity, but the deterministic scientific theories which, they say, have led to the decay of many of our world's current societal, educational, and environmental beliefs. Building upon this foundation, proposals are offered for re-thinking the way problems within these decaying systems are examined. Examples include viewing unemployment as a natural state of one's working life, an educational system shaped by the shrinking time-space compression of today's technological environment, and the possibility that 'advances' realized by today's information driven countries may, in fact, be in declines and not advances.

In terms of education, which is my focus, the implications for using chaotics to address the monumental changes required of this aging and inefficient system may be significant. That our educational systems may be pushed towards more effective and efficient methods of operations by orchestrating changes within it, using chaotics, is certainly intriguing. That our educational systems need to undergo radical change if we are going to attempt to educate our children is not in question. Inserting chaotics into our education al change strategies is neither 'new fangled' nor 're-done', and could have a dramatic impact upon how we begin turning the bow of this monstrous ship we call education in America (for real).

A bit of a tough read, Chaotics is certainly worth a close examination by anyone new to chaos or complexity theories. The ideas put forth in this book are worthy of consideration and will minimally alter the reader's perspective of change, happenstance and decay within complex systems.