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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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self-sustaining phenomenon
#14925371 - 08/15/11 11:00 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Is there a name for a self-sustaining complexity in the universe?
Ie. a pattern of n degrees complexity that lasts for x years?
By complexity I mean any combination of properties, the number of interrelating properties being n. So a single unit is an object with properties, the unit being the collection of properties.
So in 'living' organisms, we can think of complexity in terms of the number of different cell types and the number of different cell functions.
In 'non' living compexities, we can see the crystal, over time more crystal of a very similar shape will grow. The similarity between the crystals is due to inherently similar properties present through the crystal.
Sometimes crystals, starting with no crystal, will form recognisable shapes that persist, grow, evolve, over time until they become unrecognisable. Crystals 'consume', or, 'conform' suitable molecules into their structure, reproducing patterns of simple complexity over and over again. Some crystals are boring and some are beautiful. They all grow from noncrystal, as a fluid or gas turns to a solid.
A star can be considered 'alive', like a bloated sloth, hanging around with a bazillion years of fuel in its blubber. The earth is less interesting because it does not shine, but it is like a dung-eater, living off the waste from the sloth. OR a flea enjoying the warmth. Further more are the 'mites and fungi' of the analogy - life as we know it, living in the warmth of the sloth and deoendent on the dung-eater 'Earth'.
These things are not usually considered to be alive, so is there a scientific word for the sort of thing that I am talking about?
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: Noteworthy]
#14925637 - 08/15/11 11:56 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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What is a degree of complexity? I've never heard of that before and google didnt give much. Sounds like degree of freedom, is that what you mean?
Remember that complexity from a scientific context is not a well defined attribute. Its a relative and hazy distinction between a complex system and a noncomplex system.
Perhaps that is what you mean from degree of complexity? A measure of how much response in output you get from a particular input?
edit - Now Im wondering if you even mean complexity in the chaos/poincare sense? Thats is what I think when I see compleixty, chaos and poincare.
Edited by DieCommie (08/15/11 11:59 AM)
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Noteworthy
Sophyphile


Registered: 10/05/08
Posts: 5,599
Last seen: 11 years, 3 months
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: DieCommie]
#14925841 - 08/15/11 12:38 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Hmm... not degrees of freedom.
And not chaos.
But order.
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DieCommie

Registered: 12/11/03
Posts: 29,258
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: Noteworthy] 1
#14925926 - 08/15/11 12:54 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I don't think there is any scientific terminology or word for what you are talking about. Order is a subjective term that means something different to different people in their own fields.
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ChuangTzu
starvingphysicist



Registered: 09/04/02
Posts: 3,060
Last seen: 10 years, 7 months
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: Noteworthy]
#14926925 - 08/15/11 04:26 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Maybe you'd be interested in negentropy...
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Seuss
Error: divide byzero



Registered: 04/27/01
Posts: 23,480
Loc: Caribbean
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: Noteworthy]
#14927255 - 08/15/11 05:45 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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You might give http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conway%27s_Game_of_Life a read... it may be in the ballpark of what you are asking.
-------------------- Just another spore in the wind.
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iateshaggy
i haxor 360s



Registered: 05/20/05
Posts: 4,709
Loc: 612 Warf Avenue, next to....
Last seen: 2 months, 7 days
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Re: self-sustaining phenomenon [Re: Seuss]
#14928136 - 08/15/11 07:58 PM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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damn u seuss
-------------------- You are a filipina sex goddess who wants to fuck me until I fall asleep, so then you can tickle my balls and see if the legend of my diamond filled nutsuck is true. I am a white man from costa rica, who smells like lime jello.
I can flash/jtag/repair 360's, pm for details.
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