Bigger than Chaos: Overview

Bigger than Chaos asks the following questions: Why do so many complex systems behave in relatively simple ways? Why is probability so useful for understanding complex systems (as in statistical physics, but also ecology, evolutionary biology, and other sciences)? What kinds of properties must ecosystems have to provide an arena suitable for natural selection? Can the techniques used to understand physical and biological systems be extended to some or all kinds of social systems? What kind of mathematical theory is best suited to understanding complex systems?

For more information, see the outline, the chapter summary, this paper, or the Harvard University Press site.