New Kinds of Science
From CasGroup
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Some of the gold nuggets have already been found: for example the classical algorithms in computer science for sorting and searching etc., the basic fractals, L-systems and of course cellular automata. In the area of distributed computing, we have discovered big signs saying "It is impossible to find any nuggets here" (for example the FLP theorem), which is quite disappointing. | Some of the gold nuggets have already been found: for example the classical algorithms in computer science for sorting and searching etc., the basic fractals, L-systems and of course cellular automata. In the area of distributed computing, we have discovered big signs saying "It is impossible to find any nuggets here" (for example the FLP theorem), which is quite disappointing. | ||
| - | A coherent theory of computation for "distributed systems" | + | A coherent theory of computation for "distributed systems" - or something like the principles of distributed computing - is still missing. Traditional computation is associated with calculation: arithmetic functions, serial algorithms, detailed instructions, and sequential operations. Computation in distributed systems such as [[Cellular Automata]] and Agent-Based Systems, where [[Iteration|iteration]] meets interaction, is much more complex. A theory, set of [[Theorem|theorem]]s or "calculus" for these systems would be desirable, something beyond the [[Ashby_Theorems|Ashby Theorems]]. It is unclear what can be computed at all |
| - | - or something like the principles of distributed computing - | + | |
| - | is still missing. Traditional computation is associated with calculation: | + | |
| - | arithmetic functions, serial algorithms, detailed instructions, | + | |
| - | and sequential operations. Computation in distributed | + | |
| - | systems such as [[Cellular Automata]] and Agent-Based Systems, | + | |
| - | where [[Iteration|iteration]] meets interaction, is much more | + | |
| - | complex. A theory, set of [[Theorem|theorem]]s or "calculus" for | + | |
| - | these systems would be desirable. It is unclear what can be computed at all | + | |
with these systems (what kind of computation would this be?), | with these systems (what kind of computation would this be?), | ||
| - | what forms and types exist in general (have we found already | + | what forms and types exist in general (have we found already the basic types?), and how they are connected. |
| - | the basic types?), and how they are connected. | + | |
| - | The [http://atlas.wolfram.com/ Wolfram Atlas of Simple Programs] | + | The [http://atlas.wolfram.com/ Wolfram Atlas of Simple Programs] is certainly a first step to explore the computational universe. One of Stephen Wolfram's claims in his controversial book "A New Kind of Science" is that the nature of computation must be explored experimentally. |
| - | is certainly a first step to explore the computational universe. | + | |
| - | One of Stephen Wolfram's claims in his controversial book | + | |
| - | "A New Kind of Science" is that the nature of computation | + | |
| - | must be explored experimentally. | + | |
== Wolfram's New Kind of Science == | == Wolfram's New Kind of Science == | ||
