Evolution of Complex Systems Lecture 12: The Evolution of Science Peter Andras / Bruce Charlton

2 Objectives Science as a system Science as a system Origins of science Origins of science Memory, information subsystem and identity Memory, information subsystem and identity Specialisation and expansion Specialisation and expansion Interpenetration and expansion Interpenetration and expansion Competition and selection Competition and selection Emerging sciences Emerging sciences

3 Society System of human communications System of human communications Spoken, written, electronic communications Spoken, written, electronic communications

4 Science System of communications about conclusions (continuations) that can be checked experimentally System of communications about conclusions (continuations) that can be checked experimentally Two sequence of communications that should lead to the same continuations Two sequence of communications that should lead to the same continuations

5 Science and religion Religion: system of un-common knowledge Religion: system of un-common knowledge Religion and science compete to explain perceptions of the society Religion and science compete to explain perceptions of the society

6 Science and education Education: the specialist reproduction subsystem of the society Education: the specialist reproduction subsystem of the society Science is reproduced by education  higher education Science is reproduced by education  higher education

7 Ancient science Greeks Greeks Romans Romans Chinese Chinese Indians Indians Islam world Islam world

8 Early Christian science Middle ages Middle ages Relatively primitive Relatively primitive

9 Uncommon knowledge Religion: explaining what is unexplainable in terms of common language Religion: explaining what is unexplainable in terms of common language

10 Practical knowledge Common knowledge about practical problems Common knowledge about practical problems Specialist practical knowledge  expansion Specialist practical knowledge  expansion E.g., masonry, surgery E.g., masonry, surgery

11 Writing and uncommon knowledge Written communications Written communications Preservation of communications for later reference  memory Preservation of communications for later reference  memory Interpretation in new context  memory processing  information subsystem Interpretation in new context  memory processing  information subsystem

12 Systematic uncommon knowledge Analysing uncommon knowledge Analysing uncommon knowledge Writing allows longer derivations Writing allows longer derivations Contradictions are found and solved and the solutions are written down Contradictions are found and solved and the solutions are written down Note: monotheism  simplification  expansion  elaborate uncommon knowledge Note: monotheism  simplification  expansion  elaborate uncommon knowledge

13 Science of uncommon knowledge Theology: analysis, interpretation and continuation of uncommon knowledge Theology: analysis, interpretation and continuation of uncommon knowledge Schools of theology: monasteries Schools of theology: monasteries

14 Writing and practical knowledge Written communications about practical knowledge Written communications about practical knowledge Writing allows longer sequences of continuing communications Writing allows longer sequences of continuing communications Contradictions and solutions are found Contradictions and solutions are found

15 Science of practical knowledge Systematic organization of practical knowledge Systematic organization of practical knowledge E.g., ancient medicine, geometry, masonry, geography, botany textbooks E.g., ancient medicine, geometry, masonry, geography, botany textbooks Schools of practical knowledge: ancient philosophy schools, writing schools in China Schools of practical knowledge: ancient philosophy schools, writing schools in China

16 The logic of science Truth Truth What is true and what is not true (false) according to the rules of the systematic knowledge (early science)  identity of the science What is true and what is not true (false) according to the rules of the systematic knowledge (early science)  identity of the science

17 Early sciences as subsystems Uncommon and practical systematic knowledge systems Uncommon and practical systematic knowledge systems Subsystems of the corresponding knowledge system Subsystems of the corresponding knowledge system Defining logic (identity): scientifically true / false Defining logic (identity): scientifically true / false

18 Education Reproduction of the society – common knowledge base Reproduction of the society – common knowledge base Family education, religious education, practical knowledge education Family education, religious education, practical knowledge education

19 Education and theology Formalized education of uncommon knowledge to reproduce the early science of theology Formalized education of uncommon knowledge to reproduce the early science of theology More need in case of more extended uncommon knowledge systems (e.g., those built by monotheist religions) More need in case of more extended uncommon knowledge systems (e.g., those built by monotheist religions)

20 Interpenetration: education and theology New rules of education in conformity with the religion / theology New rules of education in conformity with the religion / theology New system: formal education New system: formal education Formal education and theology: systematic reproduction and extension of theology  university Formal education and theology: systematic reproduction and extension of theology  university

21 Interpenetration: formal education and practical knowledge Similarities: written communications, analysis, testing of conclusions Similarities: written communications, analysis, testing of conclusions Practical sciences change the contents of education (new communication rules) Practical sciences change the contents of education (new communication rules) Education of practical sciences: geometry, botany, geography, astrology Education of practical sciences: geometry, botany, geography, astrology

22 Interpenetration: experimental validation Practical sciences: experimental validation Practical sciences: experimental validation Science: truth checking by experimental validation Science: truth checking by experimental validation

23 Science emerging Boundary between practical sciences, theology, education Boundary between practical sciences, theology, education New system emerges: science with experimentally validated truth check New system emerges: science with experimentally validated truth check

24 Science of law Practical law practice Practical law practice Science of law Science of law More variable than theology More variable than theology Early universities Early universities

25 Science of medicine Practical anatomy, botany, surgery and theology Practical anatomy, botany, surgery and theology Science of medicine – experimental checks Science of medicine – experimental checks Early universities Early universities

26 Philosophy Ancient schools – early philosophy Ancient schools – early philosophy Pure theology free of religion – interfacing with practical sciences Pure theology free of religion – interfacing with practical sciences Early universities Early universities

27 Natural philosophy Practical sciences (geometry, mechanics, astrology, alchemy, geography) and philosophy Practical sciences (geometry, mechanics, astrology, alchemy, geography) and philosophy Experimentally validated science Experimentally validated science 16 th – 18 th century univerisities 16 th – 18 th century univerisities

28 Printing Reproduction of written text in large amount Reproduction of written text in large amount Large scale availability of memory for science communications  expansion of the information subsystem of science = more possible to process memories of earlier scientific communications Large scale availability of memory for science communications  expansion of the information subsystem of science = more possible to process memories of earlier scientific communications Explosive expansion of science Explosive expansion of science

29 Subsystems of natural philosophy Mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy Mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy Specialist languages emerge, which define new subsystems Specialist languages emerge, which define new subsystems

30 The environment of science Society Society Science is about the society and its environment Science is about the society and its environment

31 Competing sciences Alchemy and chemistry Alchemy and chemistry Astrology and astronomy Astrology and astronomy Competition: which makes better predictions and causes fewer contradictions by making false predictions Competition: which makes better predictions and causes fewer contradictions by making false predictions Contradictions (identity violations) cause cutting back and reduce growth Contradictions (identity violations) cause cutting back and reduce growth

32 Selection of sciences Sciences which grow faster are selected by the environment Sciences which grow faster are selected by the environment E.g., chemistry against alchemy, astronomy against astrology E.g., chemistry against alchemy, astronomy against astrology

33 Various formalisms 17 th – 18 th century mathematics, physics 17 th – 18 th century mathematics, physics Each school / scientist had its own formalism Each school / scientist had its own formalism

34 Uniform formalism 19 th century standardisation of mathematics formalism 19 th century standardisation of mathematics formalism Simplification and expansion Simplification and expansion Interpenetration of mathematics and physics  uniform formalism for physics  expansion of physics Interpenetration of mathematics and physics  uniform formalism for physics  expansion of physics

35 Ways of expansion Fast expansion at beginning: building the new long descriptions (sequences of continuing communications) Fast expansion at beginning: building the new long descriptions (sequences of continuing communications) Slow expansion later: gap filling Slow expansion later: gap filling

36 New subsystems Structure imposed on communications Structure imposed on communications Institutional organisation: questioning the identity/existence – conferences, academic departments, scientific societies, journals Institutional organisation: questioning the identity/existence – conferences, academic departments, scientific societies, journals New subsystems emerge New subsystems emerge

37 Interactions of systems Interface of sciences Interface of sciences Change of rules Change of rules Change of boundaries Change of boundaries Questioning of interface systems  new interface sciences – new identity Questioning of interface systems  new interface sciences – new identity E.g., theoretical biology E.g., theoretical biology

38 Other sciences: social sciences Social philosophy  science of the society Social philosophy  science of the society Branches: economics, political science, sociology, psychology (individual communications) Branches: economics, political science, sociology, psychology (individual communications)

39 Other sciences: humanities Interfaces of philosophy with arts: literature, fine arts, music Interfaces of philosophy with arts: literature, fine arts, music Integrated older sciences: philosophy, law Integrated older sciences: philosophy, law

40 Other sciences: engineering Interfaces of natural sciences (descendants of natural philosophy) and practical sciences: e.g., construction engineering, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering Interfaces of natural sciences (descendants of natural philosophy) and practical sciences: e.g., construction engineering, automotive engineering, mechanical engineering

41 Medical sciences Descendants of the science of medicine Descendants of the science of medicine E.g., neurology, dentistry, cardiology E.g., neurology, dentistry, cardiology

42 New sciences: computer science Computer science: the science of describing and solving problems Computer science: the science of describing and solving problems Information sciences – the science of information systems Information sciences – the science of information systems

43 Summary – 1 Origins of science Origins of science Early sciences: early theology, early practical sciences Early sciences: early theology, early practical sciences Theology Theology Law, medicine, philosophy, natural philosophy Law, medicine, philosophy, natural philosophy Memory, information subsystem and identity Memory, information subsystem and identity

44 Summary – 2 Interpenetration and interface sciences Interpenetration and interface sciences Branches of natural philosophy Branches of natural philosophy Competition and selection of sciences Competition and selection of sciences Simplification and expansion of mathematics and physics Simplification and expansion of mathematics and physics Other sciences Other sciences New sciences New sciences

45 Q&A – 1 1. Is it true that theology was one of the early sciences ? 2. Is it true that early theology was a subsystem of religion ? 3. Is it true that the interpenetration of education by theology led to the emergence of formal education ?

46 Q&A – 2 4. Is it true that the sciences of medicine and law emerged independently from theology ? 5. Is it true that philosophy emerged at the interface of theology and practical sciences ? 6. Is it true that natural philosophy emerged at the interface of medicine and philosophy ? 7. Is it true that astrology competed with mathematics ?

47 Q&A – 3 8. Is it true that alchemy was out competed by chemistry because the former produced more contradictions reducing its expansion capacity ? 9. Is it true that major expansion of mathematics happened before the uniformisation of mathematical terminology ? 10. Is it true that social sciences developed as descendants of social philosophy ? 11. Is it true that computer science is a new science of problem and solution formulation ? Is it true that it can be seen as a new kind of philosophy ?