chaos theory
complex systems are so fascinating... recently, in a book i was reading, a character's not-too-successful pick-up line was chaos theory - the girl was the strange attractor that was disrupting the stability of his system, and he was forced to move towards her - while it may not be the greatest pick-up line, it does in fact speak very aptly to inter-personal relationships, very non-linear dynamical systems... the strange attractor is never the same twice, but is always within a certain range... people act certain ways but never exactly the same as the time before... and then there is the butterfly effect (not the bad movie)..."The 'Butterfly Effect', or more technically the 'sensitive dependence on initial conditions,' is the essence of chaos." ... but there are patterns within that chaos...
i totally believe that everything is connected - i always have - but it completely fascinates me that a down stroke of a butterfly's wing can cause a hurricane 10 years later on the other side of the planet ... it makes one re-evaluate ones actions a bit, knowing the immense, chaotic effect they could have...
I love how the butterfly effect has morphed in society. It started as part of a short sci-fi story....which I can't remember the name of right now but am willing to bet it's Butterfly Effect. What actually happens is that the protagonist/antagonist (cause he is both) accidently steps on a prehistoric butterfly and thereby changing all of the future. But the wing flap-weather conditions still applies.
ReplyDeleteThat all things are connected at some level is one of the tenets of Eastern thought that is hardest for Westerners to grasp. In various religion and philosophy classes I have heard my fellow students argue vehemently against it. I think those students grow up to be Republicans...
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