Objects that make objects: the population dynamics of structural complexity
Journal article, 2006

To analyse the evolutionary emergence of structural complexity in physical processes, we introduce a general, but tractable, model of objects that interact to produce new objects. Since the objects-epsilon-machines-have well-defined structural properties, we demonstrate that complexity in the resulting population dynamical system emerges on several distinct organizational scales during evolution-from individuals to nested levels of mutually self-sustaining interaction. The evolution to increased organization is dominated by the spontaneous creation of structural hierarchies and this, in turn, is facilitated by the innovation and maintenance of relatively low-complexity, but general individuals.

self-organization

structure

population dynamics

hierarchy

evolution

autocatalysis

evolution

Author

J. P. Crutchfield

Olof Görnerup

Chalmers, Energy and Environment, Physical Resource Theory

Journal of the Royal Society Interface

1742-5689 (ISSN) 1742-5662 (eISSN)

Vol. 3 7 345-349

Subject Categories

Other Engineering and Technologies not elsewhere specified

DOI

10.1098/rsif.2006.0114

More information

Created

10/6/2017