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The Origins of Order: Self Organization and Selection in Evolution
  

The Origins of Order: Self Organization and Selection in Evolution (Hardcover)

by Stuart A. Kauffman (Author) "The first part of this book, Chapters 2 to 6, stalks answers to new questions: What kinds of complex systems can evolve by accumulation of..." (more)
5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 734 pages
  • Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc, USA (16 Sep 1993)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0195058119
  • ISBN-13: 978-0195058116
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 16 x 4.1 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 1,389,850 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)
  • See Complete Table of Contents

Product Description

Stephen Jay Gould
`. . . an integrative book that will become a landmark and a classic as we grope towards a more comprehensive and satisfying theory of evolution.' --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Review
. . . an integrative book that will become a landmark and a classic as we grope towards a more comprehensive and satisfying theory of evolution. (Stephen Jay Gould )

Stuart Kauffman's book . . . is a global representation of a new field, that will greatly enhance our physical understanding of Nature . . . A superb reading, not limited to physicists and biologists, having most important implications in natural philosophy. (Manfred Eigen )

Here is a big book with a big purpose. . . . The Origins of Order is the first book to be written by any of the complexity theorists themselves, and it presents Kauffman's view of the biological realm. . . . The Origins of Order will be seen as a major work in the progression of biological theory. At the very least, Kauffman has made a persuasive case to have his bold hypothesis heard. (Roger Lewin ) --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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The first part of this book, Chapters 2 to 6, stalks answers to new questions: What kinds of complex systems can evolve by accumulation of successive useful variations? Read the first page
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A disorderly but brilliant book and among my favorites., 21 Jul 1997
By A Customer
If you're looking for popular science, you will be happier with the author's more readable book on the same subject, At Home in the Universe. But if you're willing to do a little more work, this is the most compelling book you'll find about how life can emerge from the natural principles of self-organization. This is a technical book. It isn't filled with equations, but it assumes at least some knowledge of basic math, chemistry, and biology. It was written by an impressive generalist whose talents seem to extend to almost everything except lucid writing, and for that reason alone, it will never receive the attention it deserves. As with all good science, this book is equal parts experiment, observation, and intuition. Computer simulations of randomly generated boolean networks are used to explore: the dyamics of evolution on rugged fitness landscapes; the tendency to react to perturbations by returning to the stable cycle or "attractor" that was active when the perturbation occurred; and the relationship among the different attractor loops within such networks. This experimental work is tied in with knowledge of biology and chemistry to explain the emergence of life, autocatalytic systems of chemicals, cell development, and natural selection. The experience was something like reading Godel, Escher, Bach but in many ways more satisfying. Whereas Hofstadter eloquently contrives a synthesis of three human inventions, mathematics, music and art, Kauffman scrawls out his intuitive synthesis based on the rather empirical fields of chemistry, biology and computer simulation. Hofstadter is looking for an understanding of how the mind networks symbols to create thought, and Kauffman, how the natural universe networks molecules to create life. But Kauffman's work is relevant to all complex systems and offers lasting insight into the mechanisms underlying cells, societies, and even thought. Whereas GEB is largely about appreciating the wonder of intelligent life, The Origins of Order is about understanding how it actually happens. I mention Godel, Escher, Bach for good reason. These book aren't for everybody. If you worked through the examples of predicate logic in GEB and learned sufficient musical notation and theory to understand his points, and if you gained some appreciation for Godel's theorem, then you should plow through Kauffman's turgid prose, risk learning a little more about biochemistry, and delight in a reawakened wonder at the universe and newfound optimism for the future of natural science.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Very difficult and very good, 22 Oct 1998
By A Customer
There is a lot of information on a wide variety of topics: mathematics, chemistry and biology mostly.

If you're willing to put in the effort, then it is well worth it. Discussion of the possible origin of life and of animal/plant symbiosis in particular are very good.

You can leave out entire chapters - it is probably inevitable on the first reading, but that doesn't spoil the overall effect. You will still find plenty to get your teeth into.

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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent ideas about self-organization's bias on Evolution!, 25 Jul 1999
By A Customer
This book redirected my entire senior year at college; I had to write my thesis on this material. "Stu" is a great writer whose enthusiasm is contagious, and the subject matter is incontestably top-notch: in OoO, the idea is presented that natural selection is constrained by self-organization, and because of this, there are certain general parameters in which living systems are expected to fall, that are equally manifest in models of dynamic systems, which Stu has modeled. On a personal note, Stuart Kauffman is also a charismatic and winning personality; I had the opportunity to meet him in Santa Fe, after undertaking my own research in this field.
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