Complex Systems Science aims to understand concepts like complexity, self-organization, emergence and adaptation, among others. The inherent fuzziness in complex systems definitions is complicated by the unclear relation among these central processes: does self-organisation emerge or does it set the preconditions for emergence? Does complexity arise by adaptation or is complexity necessary for adaptation to arise? The inevitable consequence of the current impasse is miscommunication among scientists within and across disciplines. We propose a set of concepts, together with their information-theoretic interpretations, which can be used as a dictionary of Complex Systems Science discourse. Our hope is that the suggested information-theoretic baseline may facilitate consistent communications among practitioners, and provide new insights into the field.

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To what degree could chaos and complexity have organized a Peptide or RNA World of crude yet necessarily integrated protometabolism? How far could such protolife evolve in the absence of a heritable linear digital symbol system that could mutate, instruct, regulate, optimize and maintain metabolic homeostasis? To address these questions, chaos, complexity, self-ordered states, and organization must all be carefully defined and distinguished. In addition their cause-and-effect relationships and mechanisms of action must be delineated. Are there any formal (non physical, abstract, conceptual, algorithmic) components to chaos, complexity, self-ordering and organization, or are they entirely physicodynamic (physical, mass/energy interaction alone)? Chaos and complexity can produce some fascinating self-ordered phenomena. But can spontaneous chaos and complexity steer events and processes toward pragmatic benefit, select function over non function, optimize algorithms, integrate circuits, produce computational halting, organize processes into formal systems, control and regulate existing systems toward greater efficiency? The question is pursued of whether there might be some yet-to-be discovered new law of biology that will elucidate the derivation of prescriptive information and control. “System” will be rigorously defined. Can a low-informational rapid succession of Prigogine’s dissipative structures self-order into bona fide organization?

The authors investigated whether the gestalt grouping principles can be quantified and whether the conjoint effects of two grouping principles operating at the same time on the same stimuli differ from the sum of their individual effects. After reviewing earlier attempts to discover how grouping principles interact, they developed a probabilistic model of grouping by proximity, which allows measurement of strength on a ratio scale. Then, in 3 experiments using dot lattices, they showed that the strength of the conjoint effect of 2 grouping principles—grouping by proximity and grouping by similarity—is equal to the sum of their separate effects. They propose a physiologically plausible model of this law.

Abstract. This rather philosophical paper discusses the necessary three ingredients which together allow a collective phenomenon to be described as “emergent”. First the phenomenon, as usual, requires a group of agents entering in a non-linear relationship and entailing the existence of two semantic descriptions depending on the scale of observation. Second this phenomenon has to be observed by a mechanical observer instead of a human one, which has the natural capacity for temporal and/or spatial integration. Finally, for this natural observer to detect and select the collective phenomenon, it needs to do so in rewards of the adaptive value this phenomenon is responsible for. The presence of natural selection drives us to defend, with many authors, the idea that emergent phenomena can only belong to biology. After a brief philosophical plea, we present a simple and illustrative computer thought experiment in which a society of agents evolves a stigmergic collective behavior as an outcome of its greater adaptive value. The three ingredients are illustrated and discussed within this experimental context. Key words: emergence, natural selection 1

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This dissertation explores the development of purpose in the project definition phase of construction projects. Project definition is the project phase that identifies the needs and values of project stakeholders, and develops appropriate design solutions to satisfy them. Project purposes are constructed through the interconnected relationships of stakeholder needs and values, and the project constraints. Projects comprise diverse stakeholders whose needs and values often conflict given that environments have limited project resources to fulfill all stakeholder interests. While researchers have developed methodologies to systematically process needs into project requirements through structured means, this research focuses on the role of project managers and how they facilitate the collaborative development of purpose. The research adopts the perspective that project definition is a learning process that requires the shared understanding of stakeholder needs and values, in order to resolve them into a collective statement of project purpose. This study is carried out in two distinct phases of research exploration. The first phase examines three building construction projects at a public educational institution. The

Shipping as a complex adaptive system: A new approach in understanding international trade