Nonlinear Dynamics & Complexity Glossary

The description of each term in the glossary is accompanied by bibliographical references (which are either included with the definition or in the references at the end of the glossary.) This glossary was originally compiled by Jeffrey Goldstein, School of Management and Business, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York.

Adaptation
Algorithm
Algorithmic Complexity
Anacoluthian Processes
Artificial Life
Attractor
Types of Attractors
Basins of Attraction
Autopoeisis
Benard System
Bifurcation
Boundaries (Containers)
Butterfly Effect
Catastrophe Theory
Cellular Automata
Chaos
Chunking
The Church-Turing Thesis
Co-evolution
Coherence
Complexity
Algorithmic Complexity
Complex Adaptive System (CAS)
Concept of 15%
Containment (see Boundaries)
Correlation Dimension
Deterministic System
Difference Questioning
Dissipative Structure
Dynamical System
Edge of Chaos
Emergence
Equilibrium
Far-from-equilibrium
Feedback
Fitness Landscape
Fractal
Fractal Dimension
Generative Relationships
Genetic Algorithm
Information
Initial Conditions
Instability
Internal Models
Interactive
Linear System
Logical Depth
Logistic Equation
Mental Models
Minimum Specifications
Neural Nets
N/K Model
Nonlinear System
Novelty (Innovation)
Order for Free
Parameters
Phase (State) Space
Phase Portrait
Power Law
Purpose Contrasting
Random Boolean Network
Redundancy
Scale (Scaling Law)
Self-organization
Self-organized Criticality (SOC)
Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions (SIC)
Shadow Organization
Stability
Swarmware and Clockware
Time Series
Turing Machine
Wicked Questions

Return to the complete nonlinear dynamics & complexity glossary or click on tabs to access alphabetically listed terms. 

See Full Definitions A – B
Adaptation
Algorithm
Algorithmic Complexity
Anacoluthian Processes
Artificial Life
Attractor
Types of Attractors
Basins of Attraction
Autopoeisis
Benard System
Bifurcation
Boundaries (Containers)
Butterfly Effect

See Full Definitions C
Catastrophe Theory
Cellular Automata
Chaos
Chunking
The Church-Turing Thesis
Co-evolution
Coherence
Complexity
Algorithmic Complexity
Complex Adaptive System (CAS)
Concept of 15%
Containment (see Boundaries)
Correlation Dimension

See Full Definitions D – F
Deterministic System
Difference Questioning
Dissipative Structure
Dynamical System
Edge of Chaos
Emergence
Equilibrium
Far-from-equilibrium
Feedback
Fitness Landscape
Fractal
Fractal Dimension

See Full Definitions G – I
Generative Relationships
Genetic Algorithm
Information
Initial Conditions
Instability
Internal Models
Interactive

See Full Definitions L – N
Logical Depth
Logistic Equation
Mental Models
Minimum Specifications
Neural Nets
N/K Model
Nonlinear System
Novelty (Innovation)

See Full Definitions O – R
Order for Free
Parameters
Phase (State) Space
Phase Portrait
Power Law
Purpose Contrasting
Random Boolean Network
Redundancy

See Full Definitions S – W
Scale (Scaling Law)
Schema
Self-fulfilling Prophecy
Self-organization
Self-organized Criticality (SOC)
Sensitive Dependence on Initial Conditions (SIC)
Shadow Organization
Stability
Swarmware and Clockware
Time Series
Turing Machine
Wicked Questions

Complete References for Glossary Terms and Definitions