6 ECTS credits
150 h study time
Offer 1 with catalog number 1023509BNW for working students in the 1st semester at a (B) Bachelor - advanced level.
The course proposes an introduction to the basic concepts and principles of the evolutionary-systemic world view, in an as simple and clear possible manner. A review is presented of recent approaches in a variety of disciplines that offer new insights into the evolution, self-organization and adaptation of complex systems: systems theory, cybernetics, complex adaptive systems, chaos, biology and others. These approaches replace the Newtonian, mechanistic worldview by a paradigm, in which the emphasis is on creative processes, i.e. the spontaneous appearance of novel systems, structures and functions. This generally gives rise to an increase in complexity. The course will present various examples of such processes from different domains, and focus on the underlying concepts and principles that allow us to understand how complexity evolves. These include natural selection, variation, self-organisation, positive and negative feedback, goal-directedness, integration and differentiation, order and disorder, hierarchy, entropy, information and fitness. These concepts will be explained in an as clear and general possible way, using concrete illustrations, while technical and mathematical aspects will only be mentioned insofar that they are strictly necessary for understanding. Finally, the course will show how the evolutionary mechanisms that generate complex systems can offer us a foundation for an integrated worldview that is neither theistic nor mechanistic. By showing how the major transitions in evolution have led to emerging levels of complexity, it becomes clear how humanity fits into the larger scheme of evolution, and which forces are likely to steer future developments.
See http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/CLEA/CompEvCursus.html There exist detailed lecture notes (150 p.) with figures, exercises, bibliography, index, etc. The text can be downloaded for free from the course web site on Canvas
Complementary study material:
Some suggested books:
Richard Dawkins: The Blind Watchmaker, The Selfish Gene
Kevin Kelly: Out of Control
Paul Davies: The Cosmic Blueprint
Joël de Rosnay: The Macroscope
Prigogine & Stengers: Order out of Chaos
Waldrop M. M: Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order
and Chaos
* Achievement of a deep, intuitive understanding of the principal concepts and principles developed in the different disciplines that study the evolution of complex systems
* Integrating these different ideas into a coherent "world view" that can replace the Newtonian paradigm
The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.
Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:
Traditional oral examination, about 25 min. per student. The students are required to investigate independently a subject related to the course, and to summarise this in 5-10 min. The exam will further focus on their understanding of the fundamental concepts, rather than on detailed factual knowledge.
This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Philosophy and Moral Sciences: default (only offered in Dutch)