Registered: Dec 2003
Posts: 4

We (D. Flynn and myself) have been interested in the application of NKS to social systems. (Our manuscript, What Goes Around, Comes Around, is under review by McGill Queens University Press. See also Campbell, John, J. David Flynn and James Hay 2003; Flynn, J. David and James Hay 2005; Flynn, J. David, James M. Hay and Madeline Lennon 2007). In the course of these studies we have developed a hypothesis that two parameters from the social science are related to the “focus” – Wolfram’s four classes – of a given social system. Using these two variables we can predict transitions or cycles among the four classes.

Although we have found much evidence from several social systems to support our theory, we also wished to simulate the relationship with cellular automata. Unfortunately, the limited range of the variables in cellular automata, namely initial conditions and the rule utilized, does not provide a direct test for our ideas using cellular automata. It turns out that Global Cellular Automata, as proposed by Stephen Wolfram (URL - forum.wolframscience, October, 2003), contained within a Global Cellular Automata Network, as proposed by Seth Chandler (NKS 2004 Conference, Boston) do provide an abstract system to test these ideas.

We have run such systems to demonstrate the effect of our parameters on changes among the four states, and have written a paper on our work.

We would appreciate suggestions from the NKS Forum about where one should publish or submit for publication such a paper and also to find out if others are working in this general area.

Bibliography


Campbell, J., J. D. Flynn and J. Hay (2003). "The group development process seen through the lens of complexity theory." International Scientific Journal of Methods and Models of Complexity 6(1): 1-33.

Flynn, J. D. and J. Hay (2005). "Social focusing: A systems approach to unity." Journal of Applied Systems Science 6(2).

Flynn, J. D., J. M. Hay and M. Lennon (2007). "The Emergence of Art Systems: Cycles of Change in Art Styles." International Scientific Journal of Methods and Models of Complexity 9(1): 1-15.

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Jim Hay

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Registered: Aug 2003
Posts: 712

Sure, I am interested in this general subject, and have thought about using GCAs or their cousins, ICAs ("interactive" CAs, rule switch on specific steps controlled by an external input series) to model social systems. Others are also working on it; we've had a few summer school participants doing similar projects, and also doing ecology modeling work that is fairly close in formal set up and issues.

As for a relevant publication, Complex Systems is one. It is edited by Todd Rowland, who is also academic director of the NKS summer program. The journal's webpage is here -

http://www.complex-systems.com/

I hope this helps.

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Registered: Dec 2003
Posts: 4

Thank you for this information and we will follow it up and let you know of our progress.

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Jim Hay

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