From: CurtAdams@aol.com Date sent: Sun, 14 Nov 1999 19:11:09 EST Subject: Re: A Physicist Experiments With Cultural Studies To: extropians@extropy.com Send reply to: extropians@extropy.com
> In a message dated 11/14/99 3:53:11 PM Pacific Standard Time,
> joedees@bellsouth.net writes:
>
> > So you won'y throw out the useful baby with the bullshit bathwater,
> > I suggest reading COMPLEXITY AND POSTMODERNISM by Paul
> > Cilliers, where he maintains that postmodern techniques, which
> > allow us to more coherently linguistically grasp and represent
> > systems comprised of a multiplicity of differentially weighted
> > distinguishable but inseparable factors interrelating in dynamically
> > recursive ways, lend themselves naturally to the task of verbally
> > describing/explaining complex systems.
>
> Y'know, even if you accept that some postmodern techniques have value, it's
> hard to tell whether that particular statement is baby or bathwater :-)
>
> If that's basically a quote I think I'll wait for the abridged version.
>
>
Howzabout the amazon.com version?
A reader from New Haven, CT , April 29, 1999 Excellent and lucid explanation of basic complexity concepts Prof. Cilliers's elucidation of the key elements ofcomplexity theory is not only informative but fascinating reading. He has taken two
subjects (complexity and post-modernism), each ofwhich can be frustrating and confusing to the average reader, clearly explained
them, and then convincingly related them to eachother. By describing each of these subjects in the context of the other (in true
post-structural style), Prof. Cilliers makes each ofthem more understandable. Highly recommended! --This text refers to the
hardcover edition of this title A reader from Mpumalanga Province, South Africa , March 31, 1999 " You can't escape the agonistics of the Network " There's no denying that rule-based ethical modelsare inappropriate and indeed do an unjustice to humanity when placed in today's
complex world - and Cillers clearly identifies whythis is so. Bravo.More! More!
tlhaupt@aol.com from california , March 30, 1999 An interesting view into complexity Though it helps to have a better understanding of themodern philosophy of science, it is not necessary in order understand the idea
the book presents to the reader. It is very wellthought out, cogent and I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in
cross-disciplined approaches to understandingconcepts. I appreciate the process oriented nature of his thesis and how the classic
Newtonian physics are inadequate to defining ourrapidly changing universe. Be prepared to think, but prepare yourself for a good
adventure. Wade McReynolds (wmcreyno@hotmail.com) from Kalamazoo, MI , March 9, 1999 Good introduction to complex systems Of the two I've read, this is by far the betterintroduction to complexity. Though sometimes redundant, Cilliers's book fleshes out the
skeletal abstractions, and makes Derrida palatableeven to the general reader. --This text refers to the hardcover edition of this
title A reader from CT, USA , January 24, 1999 Clearly written and argued An excellent well-rounded introduction tocomplexity, presented in a clear and well-referenced manner. Cilliers outlines the
philosophical underpinnings for many of the centralissues in complex systems. The introductory chapter includes the most
straightforward explanation of the properties ofcomplex systems that I've seen (far better than Lewin, Waldrop, or Gell-Mann). A
must-own for anyone interested in complexity orcognitive and neural systems, or philosophy of science for that matter.