An Introduction to Complex Systems. Part I.

What is complex system theory?

It is a field that deals with systems composed of many interacting units often called "agents". There is no precise technical definition of a "complex system". But the accepted definition is:

"complex system is a system of interacting parts that display emergent behavior"

Let's start with the definition of a system.

System
A system is a collection of interacting elements called agents. A system maybe complicated but is not necessarily complex. There are essential properties of a system to be called complex systems.

Characteristic of complex systems

1. Complex collective behaviour, consist of large interacting agents following simple rules (their numbers)
2. Self-organizing - emergence is not due to a central controller. (their time scale)
3. Exhibit emergence, a self-organizing collective behavior difficult to predict from the behavior of the individual agent.
4. Signal and Information processing/interaction: all these systems produce and use information and signals from both their internal and external (their strength)
5. Adaptation: the system adapts – they change their behaviour to improve their chances of survival or success – through learning or evolutionary processes. (their learning rate)

And to give you an idea of what a complex system really is, its necessary to give some examples.

Example of complex systems:

• Condensed matter systems
• Ecosystems, Economy, and Financial market
• The brain and immune system
• Granular material
• Road traffic
• Insect colonies
• Flocking and schooling behavior in birds or fish, the internet, Human societies

Written with all the love in the world: @sinbad989