Morality as a Complex Adaptive System

2019 ◽  
pp. 137-159
Author(s):  
Gerald Gaus
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Spontaneous Order ◽  
Moral Order ◽  
Group Level ◽  
System P ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Current Science ◽  
Breaking Work

This chapter focuses on Hayek’s analysis of morality as an evolved spontaneous order while updating and revising it, taking account of current research and models. While his path-breaking work requires revision, Hayek presents an analysis of a complex adaptive moral order that is far more in tune with current science than are the highly rationalistic analyses of contemporary political philosophy, which often seek to present utopian plans for the perfect justice. Yet, I argue, we need to rethink important claims. Hayek puts great weight on group-level selection to maintain the functionality of the complex adaptive system of social morality, a claim that has been buttressed by the recent work of David Sloan Wilson. I question this, showing how an “invisible hand” can maintain functional cooperation among current humans without strong group-level selection.

scholarly journals The origins of China’s distinctive tiered economy

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-108
Author(s):  
Yukyung Yeo
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Industrial Sector ◽  
Invisible Hand ◽  
Process Of Change ◽  
Socialist Market Economy ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Party State ◽  
Socialist Market

In this study, I analyse the historical origins of China’s distinctive tiered economy by employing the analytic framework of a complex adaptive system to examine how the process of change involves selection, interaction among elements, and variation in types, which ultimately lead to adaptation. I argue that the rise of China’s tiered economy can be traced back to the Mao era and that it was enhanced throughout Deng’s economic reforms. To elaborate on this argument, I first describe how Mao’s invisible hand planted the seeds of the tiered economy. Selection at the strategy level and the resulting variation are examined as Mao’s adaptive tactics for nurturing the industrial sector. This mechanism of selection was also maintained to partially embrace market forces in Deng’s early era of reform. I then closely examine how Deng’s vision of the socialist market economy provided the party-state with raw materials for adaptation, deepening its tiered economy.

scholarly journals Economic homeostasis through negative feedback in the market using a floating taxation policy: an initial insight

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dimitri Marques Abramov
Keyword(s):  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Fundamental Idea ◽  
Taxation Policy ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
System P ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Far From Equilibrium ◽  
Taxation System

The market economy is contemporaneously considered as a complex adaptive system, chaotic and far from equilibrium. However, there are no feedback mechanisms that provide stability to the system. In this preliminary essay, I outline the fundamental idea of a floating taxation system to compensate for the market oscillations of goods, growth and profit of companies and their socio-environmental impact, promoting the long-term stability of the economic system.

CHOICE, CATALLAXY, AND JUST TAXATION: CONTRASTING ARCHITECTONICS FOR FISCAL THEORIZING

2006 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard E. Wagner
Keyword(s):  
18Th Century ◽  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Interaction ◽  
Spontaneous Order ◽  
Alternative Vision ◽  
Alternative Approach ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Relationship

Contemporary fiscal theorizing largely assimilates the activities of government to that of some choosing agent. This paper explores an alternative approach where government is assimilated to an emergent process of complex interaction, as a form of complex adaptive system. Within this alternative vision, governments are treated not as objects of intervention into a market economy but as arenas of organized participation within it. While recent developments in computational modeling are starting to provide tools for probing such a vision, the roots of that vision can be traced back to the spontaneous order theorists of the 18th century. After sketching some contours of this alternative vision, the remainder of the paper explores some possible implications of this change in vision for mapping the relationship among taxation, prosperity, and justice.

Complexity Theory

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Strevens
Keyword(s):  
Complex Systems ◽  
Complexity Theory ◽  
Statistical Physics ◽  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Dissipative Structures ◽  
General Notion ◽  
Difference Making ◽  
System P ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Complexity theory attempts to explain, at the most general possible level, the interesting features of complex systems. Two such features are the emergence of simple or stable behavior of the whole from relatively complex or unpredictable behavior of the parts and the emergence of sophisticated behavior of the whole from relatively simplistic behavior of the parts. Often, both kinds of emergence are found nested in the same system. Concerning the emergence of simplicity, this essay examines Herbert Simon’s explanation from near-decomposability and a stochastic explanation that generalizes the approach of statistical physics. A more general notion of an abstract difference-making structure is introduced with examples, and a discussion of evolvability follows. Concerning the emergence of sophistication, this chapter focuses on, first, the energetics approach associated with dissipative structures and the “fourth law of thermodynamics” and, second, the notion of a “complex adaptive system.”

Hybridität als Motor und als Ergebnis von Sprachwandel

Glottotheory ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Csaba Földes
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Cultural Production ◽  
Language Change ◽  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Explanatory Variable ◽  
Essential Factor ◽  
Language Functions ◽  
Complex Adaptive ◽  
Linguistic Innovation

AbstractThis paper deals with constellations in which, as consequences of linguistic interculturality, elements of two or more languages encounter each other and result in something partially or completely new, an – occasionally temporary – “third quality”, namely hybridity. The paper contributes to the meta-discourse and theory formation by questioning the concept, term and content of “linguistic hybridity”. It also submits a proposal for a typology of linguistic-communicative hybridity that consists of the following prototypical main groups, each with several subtypes: (1) language-cultural, (2) semiotic, (3) medial, (4) communicative, (5) systematic, (6) paraverbal and (7) nonverbal hybridity. At last, the paper examines hybridity as an explanatory variable for language change. In conclusion, hybridity is generally a place of cultural production, with special regard to communication and language it is potentially considered as an incubator of linguistic innovation. Hybridity can be seen as the engine and as the result of language change, or language development. It represents an essential factor by which language functions and develops as a complex adaptive system. Hybridity operates as a continuous cycle. By generating innovation, it triggers language change, which in turn, leads to further and new hybridizations. The processuality of hybridity creates diversity, while at the same time it can cause the vanishing of diversity.

Application of Complex Adaptive System Theory to Water Resources Allocation in Dianchi Basin

2012 ◽  
Vol 212-213 ◽  
pp. 536-542
Author(s):  
Qiong Su ◽  
Shi Hua He
Keyword(s):  
System Theory ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Adaptive System ◽  
Complex Adaptive System ◽  
Resources Allocation ◽  
Water Resources Allocation ◽  
Evolutionary Mechanisms ◽  
Reservoir Water ◽  
Allocation System ◽  
Complex Adaptive

Based on complex adaptive system theory, the characteristics of water resources allocation system of river basin are analyzed. Evolutionary mechanisms and process of complex adaptive water resources allocation system in Dianchi basin are researched, and also characteristics of "learning". A complex adaptive system model of water-resource allocation is established during analyzing the influence factors and the reaction rules of water consumer agents and water provider agents. And based on this model, water resources in Dianchi basin is allocated only under Dianchi water provider and Zhangjiu river Yunlong reservoir water provider by using the platform of matlab. Finally, corresponding calculation results and conclusions are concluded.

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