Van: Integral World [newsletter@integralworld.net] Verzonden: vrijdag 7 oktober 2011 17:24 Aan: f.visser3@upcmail.nl Onderwerp: [personal] On Complexity INTEGRAL WORLD MAILING LIST =========================== http://www.integralworld.net Newsletter Nr. 373 Amsterdam, October 7th, 2011 MANY KINDS OF CHANCE, MANY KINDS OF NECESSITIES - A Reply to DeGracia - ANDREW P. SMITH Donald DeGracia begins his article “Evolution: Chance or Dynamics?” with the claim that “the discussions about evolution are rather dated”. Maybe he didn't read all the discussions. In my article “Does Evolution have a Direction?” I discussed the role of constraints in evolution, and in particular noted how not only the dynamics but the structure of networks may be constrained by certain rules. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/smith33.html “BRIEF” NOTE TO ANDREW SMITH - DONALD J. DEGRACIA I did not talk about natural selection, which is the process whereby a specific adaptation provides some type of increased chance at reproductive success at the individual or species level. Nor did I address the evolutionary concept of random variation per se, which term refers to the (generally Gaussian) distribution of traits in a reproductive community. My purpose was much more circumscribed and sought to contrast the general idea of assigning probabilities to complex systems such as a protein molecule or random genetic mutations in an organism, as opposed to taking a network approach to these problems. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/degracia2.html PREDICTING COMPLEXITY - Another Response to DeGracia - ANDREW P. SMITH I thank Donald DeGracia for his response. It's surprising but refreshing to find someone on this forum with an extensive familiarity with topics such as biological networks and information theory. Let me clarify at the outset that my reply to his original essay was for the most part not meant to be critical. But I want to say a little more about random variation and natural selection. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/smith34.html To SUBSCRIBE to this Integral World Newsletter or change your email address, click here: http://www.integralworld.net/pommo/user/subscribe.php To UNSUBSCRIBE, update your account by logging in. For explanation, see: http://www.integralworld.net/nl_faq.html