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Complexity theory is interesting and useful. However, because it's approximately descriptive, rather than accurately predictive, the field is haunted by quantu
by goodmachine 6y ago
Complexity theory is interesting and useful.
However, because it's approximately descriptive, rather than accurately predictive, the field is haunted by quantum woo merchants, grand metaphysical unifiers, quasi-ecological musings and Buddha-lite pantheism. Which is neither interesting nor useful, except perhaps as a sociological phenomenon. Discuss.
- trenchgun 6y agoNothing to discuss for me. Agreed to both points.
- beaconstudios 6y agoI don't think there's anything wrong with thinking about the philosophical side of complexity theory, I do quite a lot and arguably fall into the second and fourth categories you've described. You are, of course, free to not be interested in metaphysical philosophy. Woo merchants latch onto anything science-sounding that they can, as they're trying to steal authority by use of jargon, so I don't think that's unique to systems science - but their influence is of course extremely toxic as they both kill people and erode the authority of the subjects they steal from.