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Langton's Game of Life Epiphany
- A computer geek at MIT was captivated by Conway's Game of Life, seeing complex life-like patterns emerge from simple rules.
- This inspired the realization that complexity lies at the edge of chaos, akin to the life of cities and ecosystems.
Chaos Theory Meets Alan Watts
- Neil Theise was struck by the similarity of complexity science ideas to Ian Malcolm's character in Jurassic Park.
- Alan Watts' whirlpool analogy resonated deeply, linking living identity to dynamic, stable patterns within larger systems.
Basics of Complexity Science
- Complexity science studies how interacting parts in systems self-assemble into wholes with emergent behaviors.
- Systems can be perfectly ordered like clocks or chaotic like weather, both displaying fractal geometries and dynamic patterns.