Towards a Metaphysics of Worlds: Meta-commentary on the most fun talk I’ve done in years – Rao (2024

[Deeply cybernetic, in my view!]

VENKATESH RAO

JAN 27, 2024

Towards a Metaphysics of WorldsMeta-commentary on the most fun talk I’ve done in yearsVENKATESH RAOJAN 27, 2024

Towards a Metaphysics of Worlds – by Venkatesh Rao
https://studio.ribbonfarm.com/p/towards-a-metaphysics-of-worlds?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=9973&post_id=141086575&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=false&r=slo6&utm_medium=email

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1N_jCn-eX84Jh0DjRkbkE0H9rrUt6LKml-nuGZfOAelA/edit#slide=id.g29a0e17a986_0_40

See also

Fighting change with change:adaptive variation in an uncertain world – Ancel Meyers and Bull (2002)

  • December 2002
  • Trends in Ecology & Evolution 17(12):551-55

Meyers LA, Bull JJ. Fighting change with change. Trends Ecol Evol 17: 551-557December 2002Trends in Ecology & Evolution 17(12):551-55

Meyers LA, Bull JJ. Fighting change with change. Trends Ecol Evol 17: 551-557 | Request PDF

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222702429_Meyers_LA_Bull_JJ_Fighting_change_with_change_Trends_Ecol_Evol_17_551-557

https://www.academia.edu/17939474/Meyers_LA_Bull_JJ_Fighting_change_with_change_Trends_Ecol_Evol_17_551_557

via the tweet

Dissipative delusions – Petter Holme on Prigogine

[I wonder how, if it all, people will react to this?]

DECRYPTING THE DNA OF MEGAPROJECTS: A Model-based Management Approach using the Viable System Model (VSM) – Frahm and Pfiffner (2023)

FEATURED PAPER

By Michael Frahm

Baden-Württemberg, Germany

and

Dr. Martin Pfiffner

Pfäffikon, Switzerland


Abstract

The following article is an introduction to the design of megaproject organizations based on the viable system model. It combines approaches from project management with approaches from systems theory. The understanding of complexity and how it is effectively managed by the organizational code is a central theme. After referring to current research and a short introduction, the application is shown by using an example. The article shows how important the „applied“ management model is for a successful management of mega projects.

Keywords: Majorprojects, Megaprojects, System Theory, Viable System Model, Organisation, Complexity

DECRYPTING THE DNA OF MEGAPROJECTS A Model-based Management Approachusing the Viable System Model (VSM) FEATURED PAPERBy Michael FrahmBaden-Württemberg, GermanyandDr. Martin PfiffnerPfäffikon, SwitzerlandAbstractThe following article is an introduction to the design of megaproject organizations based on the viable system model. It combines approaches from project management with approaches from systems theory. The understanding of complexity and how it is effectively managed by the organizational code is a central theme. After referring to current research and a short introduction, the application is shown by using an example. The article shows how important the „applied“ management model is for a successful management of mega projects.Keywords: Majorprojects, Megaprojects, System Theory, Viable System Model, Organisation, Complexity

Decrypting the DNA of Megaprojects – PM World Journal

Algebraic Dynamical Systems in Machine Learning – Jones, Swan and Giansiracusa (2024)

Download PDF

Applied Categorical Structures

Aims and scope

Submit manuscript

Abstract

We introduce an algebraic analogue of dynamical systems, based on term rewriting. We show that a recursive function applied to the output of an iterated rewriting system defines a formal class of models into which all the main architectures for dynamic machine learning models (including recurrent neural networks, graph neural networks, and diffusion models) can be embedded. Considered in category theory, we also show that these algebraic models are a natural language for describing the compositionality of dynamic models. Furthermore, we propose that these models provide a template for the generalisation of the above dynamic models to learning problems on structured or non-numerical data, including ‘hybrid symbolic-numeric’ models.

Algebraic Dynamical Systems in Machine LearningOpen accessPublished: 18 January 2024Volume 32, article number 4, (2024)Cite this articleDownload PDFYou have full access to thisopen accessarticleApplied Categorical StructuresAims and scopeSubmit manuscriptAlgebraic Dynamical Systems in Machine LearningDownload PDFIolo Jones, Jerry Swan & Jeffrey Giansiracusa 83 AccessesExplore all metrics AbstractWe introduce an algebraic analogue of dynamical systems, based on term rewriting. We show that a recursive function applied to the output of an iterated rewriting system defines a formal class of models into which all the main architectures for dynamic machine learning models (including recurrent neural networks, graph neural networks, and diffusion models) can be embedded. Considered in category theory, we also show that these algebraic models are a natural language for describing the compositionality of dynamic models. Furthermore, we propose that these models provide a template for the generalisation of the above dynamic models to learning problems on structured or non-numerical data, including ‘hybrid symbolic-numeric’ models.

Algebraic Dynamical Systems in Machine Learning | Applied Categorical Structures

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10485-023-09762-9

Events and other updates from M LSA Complex Systems University of Michigan

Thinking Through Archaeological Complexity: Leveraging high performance computing, network science, and agent-based models to understand Australia’s deep past


Tuesday Jan 30, 2024
  11:30-1:00PM 747 Weiser Hall


Stefani Crabtree

Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University

There will be coffee and snacks.
The talk will be recorded for later viewing. Link to full event listingAbstract: Complex adaptive systems science provides ways to examine relationships among individuals in the archaeological past. Through these methods we directly observe the impacts of individuals’ decisions (in the case of agent-based modeling) or their relationships to other individuals (in the case of network analysis) and then examine the effects of these behaviors on larger societal structures. Approaches from complex adaptive systems thus help advance archaeological research to study not just the tangible (artifacts) but the intangible and invisible (relationships).

In this talk I highlight how tools from complex adaptive systems science have helped solve debates on when and how the peopling of Australia happened, and how people have been fundamental components in ecosystems for generations. This work has applicability to other systems worldwide, both in the past and into the future. Archaeology helps us understand vexing problems today by illustrating the trajectories of past societies, allowing us to see the long-term consequences of human decisions.Add to Google CalendarUpcoming Events
 CSCS Seminar, Thursday, February 1, 2024: Twists, triangles, and tentacles: A guided tour of high-dimensional basins in networked dynamical systemsYuanzhao Zhang, Postdoctoral Fellow, Santa Fe Institute.

Biophysics Seminar, Monday, February 5, 2024, 12:00pm 1640 Chemistry. Clare Abreu will present “Predicting microbial community responses to environmental change”.

CSCS Seminar, Thursday, February 8, 2024, Talk Title, TBA, Elizabeth Munch,  Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering and Department of Mathematics; Michigan State University. 

MCDB Seminar, Monday, February 12, 2024, Heart-brain balancing act: Function and development of motor and sensory circuits for cardiac feedback control Luis Hernandez-Nunez, Harvard University

CSCS Seminar, Thursday, February 15, 2024 A Network Science for Complexity & SocietyBrennan Klein, Network Science Institute, Northeastern University

______________

TEDxUofM 2024: Golden Ratio, Friday, February 9, 5:00-8:30pm

The Deliberate Irony of Liberating Structures – McCandless, Singhal and Cady (2023)

Jul 6, 2023

By Keith McCandless , Arvind Singhal, and Steven H. Cady

[Adapted from a new Encyclopedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity to be published by Edward Elgar Publishing focusing on advances and diversity of theories, methods and practices]

Abstract

Liberating Structures (LS) is a repertoire of open source protocols and an innovative set of rules to guide routine interactions in board rooms, classrooms, and community forums. LS specifies how people are included and participate in ways that sets them free from unwitting patterns that exclude, stifle, and over-control. With deliberate irony, LS employs structural constraints to liberate. Codified in the early 2000s, LS consist of 10 principles and 33 practical methods versatile enough for anyone to use for a wide array of purposes and group processes. The transdisciplinary attributes of LS arise from its complexity science roots. The focus is on relationship patterns rather than individual behavior. LS makes it possible to work with complexity instead of engineering it away, and hence generates options where none existed. Every LS protocol in the repertoire has the same minimalistic “DNA” of five micro-structuring elements. LS use has spread across diverse organization types, social movements, and disciplines.

Keywords: complexity science, social innovation, inclusion and engagement, facilitation, action research, collaborative change

Keith McCandless·Following11 min read·Jul 6, 2023923By Keith McCandless , Arvind Singhal, and Steven H. Cady[Adapted from a new Encyclopedia of Interdisciplinarity and Transdisciplinarity to be published by Edward Elgar Publishing focusing on advances and diversity of theories, methods and practices]AbstractLiberating Structures (LS) is a repertoire of open source protocols and an innovative set of rules to guide routine interactions in board rooms, classrooms, and community forums. LS specifies how people are included and participate in ways that sets them free from unwitting patterns that exclude, stifle, and over-control. With deliberate irony, LS employs structural constraints to liberate. Codified in the early 2000s, LS consist of 10 principles and 33 practical methods versatile enough for anyone to use for a wide array of purposes and group processes. The transdisciplinary attributes of LS arise from its complexity science roots. The focus is on relationship patterns rather than individual behavior. LS makes it possible to work with complexity instead of engineering it away, and hence generates options where none existed. Every LS protocol in the repertoire has the same minimalistic “DNA” of five micro-structuring elements. LS use has spread across diverse organization types, social movements, and disciplines.Keywords: complexity science, social innovation, inclusion and engagement, facilitation, action research, collaborative change

The Deliberate Irony of Liberating Structures | by Keith McCandless | Medium

https://keithmccandless.medium.com/the-deliberate-irony-of-liberating-structures-9884360ff8b0

ReLocalize Creativity

ReLocalize Creativity Explained

https://relocalizecreativity.net/view/welcome-visitors/view/relocalize-creativity-explained

__

ReLocalize Creativity workshop

https://kerry.relocalizecreativity.net/view/relocalize-creativity-workshop

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See the systems

https://kerry.relocalizecreativity.net/view/see-the-systems

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Power of exponential

https://kerry.relocalizecreativity.net/view/power-of-exponential

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Causal Loop Diagram instructions

https://cld.relocalizecreativity.net/view/cld-instructions

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On this site we explore Robin Asby’s thoughts on Thinking Systems, especially as it relates to governing communities. It introduces a paradigm shifting move to include process analytics and to see statics as a special case of processes. You can order Thinking Systems, An Organic Language of Harmony for Human Survival from Amazon.

Chapter 8 Index

https://robina.relocalizecreativity.net/view/welcome-visitors/view/chapter-8-index

New partnership charts a path for systemic change in the EU

IN THE NEWS 24 JAN 2024

The Systems Transformation Hub, a pioneering venture designed to drive systemic solutions for Europe, was launched on 24 January 2024 at the European Parliament by a coalition of five thought-leading organisations. This comes at a pivotal time of complex and interconnected crises in the lead-up to key elections in the European Union.

New partnership charts a path for systemic change in the EUIN THE NEWS 24 JAN 2024The Systems Transformation Hub, a pioneering venture designed to drive systemic solutions for Europe, was launched on 24 January 2024 at the European Parliament by a coalition of five thought-leading organisations. This comes at a pivotal time of complex and interconnected crises in the lead-up to key elections in the European Union.

New partnership charts a path for systemic change in the EU – Climate-KIC

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical Approach

[You need to join the meetup.com group but this is free]

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical Approach

Details

Practical Workshop

Dive into Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) in our concise workshop lead by strategy and organisational clarity-maker Adam Thompson.

We’ll see how to apply this powerful tool for diagnosing and improving any purposeful system, which of course includes organisations.

We ask that you bring along your most pressing organisational pathology so we can apply the model in real-time to create insight and solutions while showing you how to put it to use.

Adam has a wonderful way of explaining complex concepts in a simple and fun way without losing the essence of the concepts.

He has a video that explains VSM in 2 minutes accessible from here: https://youtu.be/b88Z5lK9HOY
If you want more, there is even more fun videos that expands on System 2 in VSM: https://youtu.be/YDUJPFTSS-U?si=wo7_aT9gt0LxNnxf
And another short video that briefly explains System 3: https://youtu.be/zd5dGxzm3D8?si=pcSlP0k8neA9Wx-w

Facilitator: Adam Thompson
Since 2012, Adam has been helping leaders get strategic, organisational and leadership clarity so their organisations can be successful. With over 25 years of organisational leadership experience, the trademark of his work is engaging expertise with a touch of humour (because real change needs it!), bringing together a vast and evolving knowledge of strategic, organisational, systems and people models to create insight and understandings that are bespoke for each situation.

Prior to establishing his consulting practice, he was part of the Executive at RAA, earlier work saw success in senior roles in the insurance, finance, education and legal industries, both in Australia and in the UK. His formal qualifications are in Economics and Law and he is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor in South Australia while successfully avoiding actual working as one! He also holds certification from the Institute For Development Coaching for providing feedback and tailored coaching on the Leadership Maturity Framework.

Outside of work and his busy family, he is the Soccer Coordinator for his children’s school and lives essentially the exact opposite life to Jason Bourne.

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical ApproachHosted ByDavid W. and 2 othersDetailsPractical WorkshopDive into Stafford Beer’s Viable System Model (VSM) in our concise workshop lead by strategy and organisational clarity-maker Adam Thompson.We’ll see how to apply this powerful tool for diagnosing and improving any purposeful system, which of course includes organisations.We ask that you bring along your most pressing organisational pathology so we can apply the model in real-time to create insight and solutions while showing you how to put it to use.Adam has a wonderful way of explaining complex concepts in a simple and fun way without losing the essence of the concepts.He has a video that explains VSM in 2 minutes accessible from here: https://youtu.be/b88Z5lK9HOYIf you want more, there is even more fun videos that expands on System 2 in VSM: https://youtu.be/YDUJPFTSS-U?si=wo7_aT9gt0LxNnxfAnd another short video that briefly explains System 3: https://youtu.be/zd5dGxzm3D8?si=pcSlP0k8neA9Wx-wFacilitator: Adam ThompsonSince 2012, Adam has been helping leaders get strategic, organisational and leadership clarity so their organisations can be successful. With over 25 years of organisational leadership experience, the trademark of his work is engaging expertise with a touch of humour (because real change needs it!), bringing together a vast and evolving knowledge of strategic, organisational, systems and people models to create insight and understandings that are bespoke for each situation.Prior to establishing his consulting practice, he was part of the Executive at RAA, earlier work saw success in senior roles in the insurance, finance, education and legal industries, both in Australia and in the UK. His formal qualifications are in Economics and Law and he is a qualified Barrister and Solicitor in South Australia while successfully avoiding actual working as one! He also holds certification from the Institute For Development Coaching for providing feedback and tailored coaching on the Leadership Maturity Framework.Outside of work and his busy family, he is the Soccer Coordinator for his children’s school and lives essentially the exact opposite life to Jason Bourne.

Demystifying the Viable System Model: A Practical Approach, Thu, Feb 15, 2024, 6:00 PM | Meetup

https://www.meetup.com/systems-at-play/events/297676132/

Dissipative delusions

Lately, I’ve been reading books and papers of, and about, Ilya Prigogine, and here’s a little report. (The cover illustration uses a picture of …

Dissipative delusions

Jude Lombardi YouTube – rich in cybernetics

Lots of von Glaserfeld, Maturana,Pask, Bateson (Mary Catherine), von Foerster and more

jude lombardi

@cyberjltoo

(3) jude lombardi – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/@cyberjltoo/videos

The Otherness of Communication: Systems Theory and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go – Sugiyama (2024)

Abstract

Abstract:

This essay investigates the radical reconceptualization of communication demonstrated in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005). In the novel, Ishiguro depicts communication not as a means to establish mutual understanding, but as an autonomous phenomenon independent from the participants, which I call dislocated communication. I articulate this notion of communication following from Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. In deploying this framework, I argue that Ishiguro positions dislocated communication as the reality of communication, in turn obliging readers to experience the otherness of clones as epistemologically inaccessible since the readers, too, participate in communication with the novel’s protagonist narrator, Kathy H.

Abstract

Abstract:

This essay investigates the radical reconceptualization of communication demonstrated in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005). In the novel, Ishiguro depicts communication not as a means to establish mutual understanding, but as an autonomous phenomenon independent from the participants, which I call dislocated communication. I articulate this notion of communication following from Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. In deploying this framework, I argue that Ishiguro positions dislocated communication as the reality of communication, in turn obliging readers to experience the otherness of clones as epistemologically inaccessible since the readers, too, participate in communication with the novel’s protagonist narrator, Kathy H.

Abstract

Abstract:

This essay investigates the radical reconceptualization of communication demonstrated in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005). In the novel, Ishiguro depicts communication not as a means to establish mutual understanding, but as an autonomous phenomenon independent from the participants, which I call dislocated communication. I articulate this notion of communication following from Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. In deploying this framework, I argue that Ishiguro positions dislocated communication as the reality of communication, in turn obliging readers to experience the otherness of clones as epistemologically inaccessible since the readers, too, participate in communication with the novel’s protagonist narrator, Kathy H.

The Otherness of Communication: Systems Theory and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me GoKazutaka SugiyamaCollege LiteratureJohns Hopkins University PressVolume 51, Number 1, Winter 2024pp. 106-12910.1353/lit.2024.a917866ArticleView CitationAdditional InformationAbstractAbstract:This essay investigates the radical reconceptualization of communication demonstrated in Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go (2005). In the novel, Ishiguro depicts communication not as a means to establish mutual understanding, but as an autonomous phenomenon independent from the participants, which I call dislocated communication. I articulate this notion of communication following from Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory. In deploying this framework, I argue that Ishiguro positions dislocated communication as the reality of communication, in turn obliging readers to experience the otherness of clones as epistemologically inaccessible since the readers, too, participate in communication with the novel’s protagonist narrator, Kathy H.

Project MUSE – The Otherness of Communication: Systems Theory and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go

https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/917866/summary

What Can Systems Thinkers Learn from Educational Game Studies | Scott DeJong + Geoff Evamy-Hill | Systems Thinking Ontario 2024-01-15

Math’s ‘Game of Life’ Reveals Long-Sought Repeating Patterns – Alex Stone, Quora

John Conway’s Game of Life, a famous cellular automaton, has been found to have periodic patterns of every possible length.

This pattern in the Game of Life repeats itself after 41 steps. Its recent discovery ends a decades-long quest to show that Life is omniperiodic.

DVDP for Quanta Magazine

By Alex Stone

Contributing Writer


January 18, 2024

https://www.quantamagazine.org/maths-game-of-life-reveals-long-sought-repeating-patterns-20240118/