Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Artificial Life

Publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Press

Publication Date

2005

Volume

11

Issue

4

Disciplines

Computer Sciences

Abstract

We consider complex systems that are composed of many interacting elements, evolving under some dynamics. We are interested in characterizing the ways in which these elements may be grouped into higher-level, macroscopic states in a way that is compatible with those dynamics. Such groupings may then be thought of as naturally emergent properties of the system. We formalize this idea and, in the case that the dynamics are linear, prove necessary and sufficient conditions for this to happen. In cases where there is an underlying symmetry among the components of the system, group theory may be used to provide a strong sufficient condition. These observations are illustrated with some artificial life examples.

DOI

10.1162/106454605774270624

Comments

State aggregation and population dynamics in linear systems (with Jonathan E. Rowe and Michael D. Vose), Artificial Life vol. 11, no. 4, 2005, pp. 473-492. View original published article at 10.1162/106454605774270624.

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