The University of Queensland

Complex Evolutionary and Emergent Systems. Technological Cycles.



Competitions are common in nature and, jointly with adaptation, are the major driving forces behind various complex evolutionary processes, which include technological progress. Systems with competition and adoptation can possess emergent properties, which under some conditions can be characterised by competitive thermodynamics (which, however, is quite different from the thermodynamic discipline studied in schools and universities). Under other conditions -- locality and intransitivity can be mentioned here -- competitive systems can become complex and display sophisticated patterns of behaviour (e.g. competitive cooperation and complex cycles). Complex technological cycles are of special interest for engineers -- technology does not evolve gradually or monotonically but experiences relative surges and stagnations.