[FRIAM] Complexity Science for (us) Dummies

Mon Feb 6 22:56:16 EST 2017

As with most MOOCs and other on-line video courses, the trick is to choose
the right one.

Case in point. Guerin discovered a great linear algebra set of videos that
focus on visualization rather than core math .. not avoiding the math but
visualization first.
  Essence of linear algebra
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZHQObOWTQDPD3MizzM2xVFitgF8hE_ab

For the more techie end of things, we found a great set for es6, the new
version of javascript that basically reinvents javascript .. its almost a
new language with backwards compatibility for "legacy".

It's an art to find the right material. I found one of the Complexity
Explorers that actually did a great job, both of explaining differential
equations, but also what they are good for.  All pretty much just with
algebra.

Nick can easily do these if so inclined.

   -- Owen

On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 8:47 PM, Steven A Smith <sasmyth at swcp.com> wrote:

> Take a gander, you old gander <grin>... there may be something in there
> worthy of a little study.  It is rich with material... but maybe
> overwhelmingly so!
>
> On 2/6/17 8:43 PM, Nick Thompson wrote:
>
> Owen, Steve,
>
>
>
> I am embarrassed to say, this is the first I have heard of it.
>
>
>
> It may be too late for this old bird.
>
>
>
> Nick
>
>
>
> Nicholas S. Thompson
>
> Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology
>
> Clark University
>
> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/
>
>
>
> *From:* Friam [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com
> <friam-bounces at redfish.com>] *On Behalf Of *Owen Densmore
> *Sent:* Monday, February 06, 2017 8:25 PM
> *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> <friam at redfish.com> <friam at redfish.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] Complexity Science for (us) Dummies
>
>
>
> Complexity Explorer is the best thing SFI has produced, other than perhaps
> there video library of talks. For me, anyway.
>
>
>
>    -- Owen
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 4:07 PM, Steven A Smith <sasmyth at swcp.com> wrote:
>
> Nick -
>
> Vortices aside, I just checked the Syllabi of the Complexity Explorer and
> find that there are MANY courses that might be of interest to you.  Do you
> find the language in them out of reach?  Would having a small study group
> online help with that?    Are there any particular topics there (
> https://www.complexityexplorer.org/explore/syllabi) of interest?
>
> - Steve
>
> On 2/6/17 3:51 PM, Steven A Smith wrote:
>
> Nick -
>
> I DO remember he tornado/vortex/swirlie discussions of yore, and in fact,
> those were characteristic of the discussions I appreciated there being
> here, just as I appreciated the "book club" you spearheaded on a Complexity
> topic even earlier (what book was that?).  I also appreciated your
> "noodling" concept back in the day (not complexity as such, excepting for
> the idea of emergent knowledge).   I think your contribution to this list,
> with your own specific background and as an unabashed "innocent' on many
> topics is very valuable.  I realize my encouraging Doug in his juvenile
> responses (e.g. Swirlies) did undermine your attempt to be serious about
> tornadoes, but it DID lead you to meeting his Parrots I think?   I have a
> fresh batch of Ravens at my place who  you are welcome to come engage with
> their vocalizations (no wife now to limit my open invitations, just a
> vicious dog who I can sequester with minor warning).
>
> I agree that the deeper methods of Complexity Science ARE difficult and
> subtle, but in many ways more intuitive and accessible (IMO) than those of
> Relativistic and Quantum Physics.   The *ideas* (as I think Glen suggests)
> *are* pretty available...  I would suggest that your own field might be
> harder for educated laypersons from "adjacent fields" to grasp, with even
> more reserved terminology?  The fact that Complexity Science spans
> (virtually?) all sciences ( and engineering and technology ) means it
> *must* be accessible laterally.  There is little to no value to stovepiping
> it.   I know some folks have made quite a living off of making Complexity
> Science arcane... but far from all.  I think SFI does a very good job in
> general.
>
> I don't know what it can be done in this forum, but perhaps.  I think that
> what complexityexplorer.org (thanks to SFI) is trying to do is exactly
> what you are seeking?   I sat in on the first round (online ) but it was
> "remedial" enough for me to not hold my interest, though I *do* much need
> the thoroughness involved.   I had hoped there would form a "study group"
> here to follow the classes and have lots of peer support.  I don't remember
> their being much engagement in this forum?
>
> I will agree with Glen's observation that a "complexity perspective" is
> ever-present here, which is part of what makes it all worthwhile.   I
> withdraw any implication that we need more use of arcane complexity science
> terminology, or that what we *do* have here isn't appreciated.
>
> - Steve
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On 2/6/17 1:39 PM, Nick Thompson wrote:
>
> Dear all,
>
>
>
> Steve Smith wrote:
>
>
>
> I feel we *don't* discuss as many Complexity topics as I would like,
>
>
>
> I will talk about tornado formation, a n y   t I m e, Steve.
>
>
>
> Seriously, I wonder if the fact that we have stopped talking about
> complexity might have something to do with the state of play of that
> field.  I reached a point where I began to feel that complexity-talk went
> on in some alternative universe that, without the initiation and the golden
> key, I was never going to enter. You will remember, Steve, that  I worked
> for a couple of years, trying to make a translation between that universe
> and mine, and was never able to manage it.  When the working vocabulary of
> a science is inaccessible to a diligent, moderately intelligent,
> practitioner of neighboring sciences, does that not limit the development
> of that science?
>
>
>
> By the way, when I first came out here I tried to make contact with SFI.
> At the time, I wrote up the result in a *satirical* account, which, to be
> honest, reeks of sour grapes.  Still, in the present context you might find
> it funny.  See attached.
>
>
>
> Omitted from this account was one life-changing exchange with Dr. X.  At
> some point, during Phase II of The Ritual Reception and Rejection, I asked
> him, “Given that The Institute is such a charismatic place, and given that
> you have no room, where do all the people go when you reject them?  There
> must be a lot of them around Santa Fe.”
>
>
>
> I am everlastingly grateful for his response.  He thought a very long
> minute and then scribbled on a Posty and handed it to me.  It said, “Call
> Steve Guerin.  FRIAM.”
>
>
>
> The rest is history.
>
>
>
> Nick
>
>
>
>
>
> Nicholas S. Thompson
>
> Emeritus Professor of Psychology and Biology
>
> Clark University
>
> http://home.earthlink.net/~nickthompson/naturaldesigns/
>
>
>
> *From:* Friam [mailto:friam-bounces at redfish.com
> <friam-bounces at redfish.com>] *On Behalf Of *Steven A Smith
> *Sent:* Monday, February 06, 2017 12:00 PM
> *To:* The Friday Morning Applied Complexity Coffee Group
> <friam at redfish.com> <friam at redfish.com>
> *Subject:* Re: [FRIAM] SFI to Trump: The dangers of simplicity in a
> complex world
>
>
>
> I appreciate FriAM, even though I don't attend Friday Congregation very
> often, or even WedTech Congregation either!   The *active* voices here are
> familiar and even though I may have a lot of different perspectives and
> opinions, I truly value what I hear here, and more than anything I look
> forward to one of our *many* lurkers chiming in.
>
> I feel we *don't* discuss as many Complexity topics as I would like, but I
> like knowing that there are many with strong Complexity backgrounds engaged
> in the more sociopolitical discussions that seem to dominate.
>
> Since I feel a bit like Glen in his statement "Since I don't belong
> anywhere, I obviously didn't belong there"...  I'm enough used to being an
> outsider or an interloper that I generally can slip into alien situations
> and keep a low enough profile to not raise alarm or cause disruption.
>
> This forum, being asynchronous and as Gary points out, "easy to delete"
> feels like a safe place FOR me to speak up above a hushed whisper... so I
> value it as well.
>
> SFx was intended to be a more open and welcoming environment to share the
> wealth from... I think we did a moderately good job much of the time, but
> still missed the mark in at least developing a sustainable funding model.
>
> - Steve
>
>
>
> On 2/6/17 11:49 AM, Gary Schiltz wrote:
>
> It goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway - FRIAM, both the list and
> the actual gathering at the "mothership" of Santa Fe - has always felt
> welcoming. It's the only list I've stayed with since its inception. I don't
> know if there are any SFI lurkers here, but there do seem to be a lot of
> people who "used to" have some association with it rather than those who
> are actively involved with it. I've no idea how much is due to a bit of
> snobbery vs. just simply the fact that the list is open to such a wide
> range of stuff that isn't interesting to folks interested purely in
> complexity. I find it easy enough just to delete messages when I get too
> overwhelmed, confident that they are archived so I can eventually look them
> over.
>
>
>
> On Mon, Feb 6, 2017 at 1:34 PM, glen ☣ <gepropella at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> FWIW, I felt fairly unwelcome soon after I left to work in our Agua Fria
> office (1997 maybe), perhaps since I was merely a research technician
> rather than any sort of academic.  Then it got even worse when they
> expanded down the hill by staffing a receptionist.  I always managed to
> sneak past without being grilled to badly ... but the concept was clear: do
> you belong here?  Since I don't belong anywhere, I obviously didn't belong
> there. 8^)
>
>
> On 02/05/2017 03:40 PM, Frank Wimberly wrote:
> > That makes sense but I just sat there quietly and listened.  No
> > self-aggrandizing questions. And then I left.
>
> --
> ☣ glen
>
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> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
>
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> ============================================================
>
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
>
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
>
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
>
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>
>
>
> ============================================================
>
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
>
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
>
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
>
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
>
>
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
>
>
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
>
>
>
> ============================================================
> FRIAM Applied Complexity Group listserv
> Meets Fridays 9a-11:30 at cafe at St. John's College
> to unsubscribe http://redfish.com/mailman/listinfo/friam_redfish.com
> FRIAM-COMIC http://friam-comic.blogspot.com/ by Dr. Strangelove
>
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