COMPLEXITY (Time Dimension of)
Charles François (2004). COMPLEXITY (Time Dimension of), International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics, 2(1): 563.
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 563 ▶ |
| Object type | Methodology or model |
According to J.W.S. PRINGLE, the notion of complexity should include not only the synchronic complexity of forms and structures, but also the diachronic complexity of processes. He expresses this opinion as follows: “The complexity of the description of the behavior resides in the number of independent rhythms into which it can be analyzed” (1956, p.95).
He thus characterizes the difference between synchronic and diachronic complexity: “Instead of distinct parts of the system which preserve their separateness with the passage of time,” (i.e. whose synchronic interrelations remain invariant at different moments) “we now need to have distinct rhythms which remain distinct as they move through the population” (p.98).