[edit] this might be a good starting point: - general overview of complex systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C

[edit] this might be a good starting point: - general overview of complex systems: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complex_system - nonlinear dynamics (maths-heavy): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonlinear_system https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonlinear_system it's the underlying topic of study in systems theory in the same way that mathematics is about axiomatic models; you won't see it explicitly mentioned that much unless you go into the more pure, self-referential subdisciplines. cybernetics focuses on things like feedback loops (where cause-and-effect runs in a loop - ie, it is not linear), systems theory works on higher-order patterns based on feedback; it spans out in many different directions (systems theory is extremely transdisciplinary) and there's a lot to it so I'm not sure what specifically I could direct you towards. "Thinking in Systems" by Donella Meadows is the typical recommendation, but I find it very diagram-focused and that's probably the least interesting part about it in my mind.