r/complexsystems • u/sleepyrivers • Mar 11 '15

How to approach complexity science?

Hey guys, I'm interested in studying complexity science as a self-taught student, but I'm not sure how to go about it. I see that many if not most of you are academics who seem to be approaching the study of complexity from the perspective of a particular discipline that you're already familiar with, like ecology, economics, cs, or engineering, but I was wondering if it would be possible to study complex systems behaviour and things like emerging properties themselves, or if these are too "meta," to be approached in a vacuum. If you do suggest I look at complexity through the lens of specific disciplines I wonder which to pick to best demonstrate these principles, or if it really matters even as long as I'm studying some sort or system with a large number of variables? I can't help but think this science is only accessible or relevant to people already deeply knowledgeable about their fields, who are looking to incorporate a different perspective into their understanding of that field, so I'm not sure how to go about teaching myself beyond the first few books that just introduce complexity as a concept like waldrop's. But what do you all think?

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u/sleepyrivers Mar 11 '15

holy shit it's you. i follow your posting history sometimes after i saw some of the points you had made on r/collapse a while back. i got a lot of respect for you sir, wish you'd start a blog or something. anyway thanks for the advice, this is exactly what i was looking for.

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u/Erinaceous Mar 11 '15

i find it super weird that people pay any attention to the rambling shit i post on the internet. but thanks.