SINGULARITY
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(2) |
| ID | ◀ 3056 ▶ |
| Object type | General information, Methodology or model |
- “Specific locus where a radical transformation takes place, called bifurcation by mathematicians” (C. BRUTER, 1989, p.438).
A singularity is in most cases the result of a repetitive positive and non compensated feedback bringing about an accelerating accumulation; it is an exceptional phenomenon. The function or system thus reaches a runaway “point of no return”, or threshold, locus and moment of sudden discontinuity, or catastrophe, which may destroy the system or trigger a deep structural and functional transformation, corresponding to a bifurcation.
The singularity is necessarily the result of a dynamic process, leading to an “extremality”.
Cl. BRUTER states that “… the most interesting and significant phenomena in our universe are those of genesis or end of things (”generatio“ and ”corruptio“)” (Ibid).
He adds: “We must note, in case of a singularity, the increase of the potential capacity for evolution… In any common point, the direction and value of growth are fixed ”(NOTE: in mathematical terms, the function representative of the process is continuous and derivable) “At the singularity point, we are in an expecting situation. Crossing this point, there will be growth or decrease” (Ibid., p.441).
BRUTER enumerates as follows the basic physical properties of singularities:
- “By its extremality's properties, a singularity is visible.
- “By its uncommon character, it is valuable: the spatio-temporal costs of its making is high
- “By the specific geometry in its vicinity, it plays the role of an organizing center around itself, as well structurally as functionally, due to the fact that the local transformation potential is generally higher than at regular points” (Ibid).
Insects molting or a revolutionary change of political regime are examples of singularities.
See also
Nucleation mechanism, Nucleation principle.