This book explains why complex systems research is important in understanding the structure, function and dynamics of complex natural and social phenomena. It illuminates how complex collective behavior emerges from the parts of a system, due to the interaction between the system and its environment. You will learn the basic concepts and methods of complex system research. It is shown that very different complex phenomena of nature and society can be analyzed and understood by nonlinear dynamics since many systems of very different fields, such as physics, chemistry, biology, economics, psychology and sociology etc. have similar architecture. "Complexity Explained" is not highly technical and mathematical, but teaches and uses the basic mathematical notions of dynamical system theory making the book useful for students of science majors and graduate courses, but it should be readable for a more general audience; actually for those, who ask: What complex systems really are?

"This book explains why complex systems research is important in understanding the structure, function and dynamics of complex natural and social phenomena. It illuminates how complex collective behavior emerges from the parts of a system, due to the interaction between the system and its environment. You will learn the basic concepts and methods of complex system research. It is shown that very different complex phenomena of nature and society can be analyzed and understood by nonlinear dynamics since many systems of very different fields, such as physics, chemistry, biology, economics, psychology and sociology etc. have similar architecture. "Complexity Explained" is not highly technical and mathematical, but teaches and uses the basic mathematical notions of dynamical system theory making the book useful for students of science majors and graduate courses, but it should be readable for a more general audience; actually for those, who ask: What complex systems really are? TOC:COMPLEX SYSTEMS: THE INTELLECTUAL LANDSCAPE.- HISTORY of COMPLEX SYSTEMS RESEARCH.- FROM THE CLOCKWORK WORLD VIEW to IRREVERSIBILITY (and BACK?).- THE DYNAMIC WORLD VIEW in ACTION.- THE SEARCH FOR LAWS: DEDUCTIVE VERSUS INDUCTIVE.- STATISTICAL LAWS: FROM SYMMETRIC TO ASYMMETRIC.- SIMPLE AND COMPLEX STRUCTURES: BETWEEN ORDER AND RANDOMNESS.- COMPLEXITY OF THE BRAIN: STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND DYNAMICS.- FROM MODELS to DECISION MAKING.- HOW MANY CULTURES WE HAVE?"

Complex Systems: The Intellectual Landscape.- History of Complex Systems Research.- From the Clockwork World View to Irreversibility (and Back?).- The Dynamic World View in Action.- The Search for Laws: Deductive Versus Inductive.- Statistical Laws: From Symmetric to Asymmetric.- Simple and Complex Structures: Between Order and Randomness.- Complexity of the Brain: Structure, Function and Dynamics.- From Models to Decision Making.- How Many Cultures We Have?.