An Essay for my Granddaughters
The Emergence of Complex Systems on Earth
Humans have always made models to assimilate the experiences
they repeatedly had.
In those models, at any time, systems, more complex than those currently
existing, are seen to emerge at a faster and faster rate.
 Looking out into space we see stuff that looks like this.
The most complex molecules we see are similar to naphthalene,
the stuff moth-balls are made from.
It may have been like this for much
of the last 14.5 billion years
of elapsed time,
(the time between now and what some of the models
refer to as "the big bang").  The earth has existed , though not in this hospitable form,
for about the last 31% of elapsed time.
When it first formed it probably included no molecules
(complex systems) more complex than those in space;
now it includes all of the people and other complex systems
that make up Microsoft, NASA, Amnesty international
and the United Nations.
All of biological life exists in a skin just 30km thick
(about 0.25mm on this image) that includes the Earth's surface.
Humans like us will only ever live in that
thin, delicate, vulnerable space. Emerging complexity has produced systems with the complexity of plants,
animals, humans, large groups of humans.  The earliest evidence of systems as complex as primitive forms of bacteria that contain no nucleus or hereditary material, has been found in rocks 3.5 billion years old.
Those complex systems have existed
for the last 24% of elapsed time.
 Systems almost as complex as modern plant cells "blue-greens" have many of the components that exist in modern plant and animal cells;
they have existed for about
the last 8% of elapsed time
 Systems as complex as amphibians,
that have a basic structure similar to that of humans,
a trunk, four limbs, a head and a brain,
have existed for the last 2.5% of elapsed time.
Some of the behaviour patterns that occur in all systems from the
very simple to the most complex, are similar.  Systems as complex as Bonobo's,
apes that, in many ways, behave like humans,
have existed for the last 0.4% of elapsed time.
 Systems as complex as humans
able to communicate with one another
using a language with anything like the
complexity and effectiveness of a modern language,
have existed for about
the last 0.000,08% of elapsed time.
Some of the recurring behavior patterns,
seen in the context of human systems, are not pleasant.
 Systems as complex as large groups of humans from several countries, collaborating to produce a human "good", as distinct from conquest, such as international companies, inter-governmental organisations and non-governmental organisations
have existed for just a few hundred years.
The relatively few of such highly complex systems that exist,
feed off and benefit from the lives of the many less complex systems (humans) that serve and are controlled by them
as assuredly as the more complex cows feed off the less complex grass.
More complex systems are emerging spontaneously,
mainly through us. How well humans survive alongside
these new systems will depend on human skills.  Complexity has emerged in humans, mainly through the allocation of resources and model making
(green arrow).
Allocation was initially done through rights and later, more effectively, through tokens (money).
Modelling has been very beneficially done with spirits and gods, then as religions and then, most effectively, as science.
In the last few hundred years we have been so successful that our numbers have increased to a level that threatens the stability of the earth's bioskin.
Now we have to choose the techniques we want to use to restore the balance between our numbers and the way we live.
Emergent complexity has put us in charge but remains in control.
Getting used to complexity helps us to steer away from harm.
Systems more complex than humans are already with us.
They involve many humans working together to achieve some "good".
We support them and our lives are consumed by them
as grass supports and is consumed by cows.
Our lives frequently show patterns and arrangements that have existed for billions of years. It sometimes helps to appreciate this.
The attachments below are the Foreword and first few chapters of a
book on the theme outlined above.
It was compiled by myself and my granddaughters.
It was produced by me, with their considerable help, in an attempt
to provide what I thought was a helpful background and context
for the things they were learning in school.
It describes the emergence of complex systems on Earth in 140 pages and
rather more detail and provides links to more authoratative texts.
Contents of Book
Foreword page
Complexity emerges 5. As space dust becomes us. 39
6. In simple games. 45
Complexity emerged in stuff from 4 billion years ago:-
7. As more complex systems formed; from crystals to early humans 63 Complexity emerged in people over the last 120 thousand years:-
8. As they migrated across the earth, separated and rejoined. 69 9. As they added to their animal-like behaviour. 73 10 As they organised themselves into cells, hierarchies and networks. 85 Complexity emerged in people and their institutions:-
11. As the brawny allocated and the brainy made models. 91 12. As the brawny allocated resources. 95 13. As the brawny allocated resources by right. 99 Over the last 6 thousand years
14. As the brawny allocated resources by token. 111 Over the last few hundred years
15 As allocation of resources by right and by token merged. 119
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 16 An overview of Our Universe and how we seem likely to develop. 125 17 How should we behave in Our Universe? 133 Möbius strip, Glossary 137 Bibliography and Acknowledgements 140 Index 143 Attached below are Foreword, first six chapters, chapter 7-17 highlights, Glossary, Bibliography, Index |