Complexity and Evolution

6 ECTS credits
150 u studietijd

Aanbieding 2 met studiegidsnummer 1023510BNR voor alle studenten in het 1e semester met een verdiepend bachelor niveau.

Semester

1e semester

Inschrijving onder examencontract

Niet mogelijk

Beoordelingsvoet

Beoordeling (0 tot 20)

2e zittijd mogelijk

Onderwijstaal

Engels

Faculteit

Faculteit Letteren en Wijsbegeerte

Verantwoordelijke vakgroep

History, Archaeology, Arts, Philosophy and Ethics

Onderwijsteam

Francis Heylighen (titularis)

Onderdelen en contacturen

26 contacturen Hoorcollege
90 contacturen Zelfstudie en externe werkvormen

Inhoud

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.

Studiemateriaal

Digitaal cursusmateriaal (Vereist) : Cursusnota's (150 blz.) beschikbaar, Francis Heylighen, http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/books/Complexity-Evolution.pdf
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Complexity, The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos, Waldrop M. M, Simon & Schuste, 9780671872342, 1992
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : The Blind Watchmaker, Richard Dawkins, Penguin Books Ltd, 9780141026169, 2006
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Out of Control, The New Biology of Machines, Social Systems, & the Economic World, Kevin Kelly, Basic Books, 9780201483406, 1995
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : The Cosmic Blueprint, New Discoveries in Nature's Creative Ability to Order the Universe, Paul Davies, Templeton Foundation Press,U.S, 9781932031669, 2004
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Le Macroscope, Vers Une Vision, Joël de Rosnay, Contemporary French Fiction, 9782757841136, 2014
Handboek (Aanbevolen) : Order out of Chaos, Man's New Dialogue with Nature, Prigogine & Stengers, Verso, 9781786631008, 2017

Bijkomende info

This course can be studied independently on the basis of the detailed lecture notes (150 p.) with figures, exercises, bibliography, index, etc, which can be downloaded for free from the course web site on Canvas

Leerresultaten

Algemene competenties

the students achieve a deep, intuitive understanding of the concepts and principles developed in the different disciplines that study the evolution of complex systems and learn to integrate these different ideas into a coherent world view

Beoordelingsinformatie

De beoordeling bestaat uit volgende opdrachtcategorieën:
Examen Mondeling bepaalt 100% van het eindcijfer

Binnen de categorie Examen Mondeling dient men volgende opdrachten af te werken:

Mondeling examen met een wegingsfactor 1 en aldus 100% van het totale eindcijfer.

Toelichting: Traditioneel mondeling examen, ca. 25 min/student. Er wordt de studenten gevraagd een thema dat aanleunt bij de cursus autonoom uit te diepen, en dit in 5-10 minuten samen te vatten. Daarnaast zal het examen voornamelijk peilen naar inzicht in de fundamentele concepten, eerder dan naar gedetailleerde feitenkennis.

Aanvullende info mbt evaluatie

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.

Toegestane onvoldoende

Kijk in het aanvullend OER van je faculteit na of een toegestane onvoldoende mogelijk is voor dit opleidingsonderdeel.

Academische context