Date: Sun, 13 Nov 1994 22:18:36 -0500 From: quilty-AT-philos.umass.edu (Lulu of the Lotus-Eaters) Subject: Re: Steve's post on Chaos (from Tom) Steve Keen mentions: *} Incidentally, apropos of your assumption that chaos applies at *} the molecular level only (an assumption I think I am allowed to *} make, since you made that statement in at least two postings): the *} first two systems to which chaos was applied were the weather, *} and what is known as the "many body" problem: predicting the *} path followed by more than two planets under the influence of *} their respective gravitational fields. Both the weather and *} planets are clearly on a larger scale than the molecule. Well, actually Richardson's analyses of the fractal (statistically self-similar and scale sensitive) nature of coastlines predates Lorenz' chaotic meteorological equations by a couple decades. As well, some "strange" sets discovered by Cantor, Poincare and others have an arguable relevance. Keen may be right about the first dynamic systems described in these terms. At any rate, Keen is certainly correct that chaos need not be "molecular" (even fluid dynamics and turbulance isn't per se a molecular question). Yours, Lulu... quilty-AT- _/_/_/_/_/_/_/ THIS MESSAGE WAS BROUGHT TO YOU BY:_/_/_/_/_/ v i philos. _/_/ Postmodern Enterprises _/_/ s r umass. _/_/ MAKERS OF CHAOS.... _/_/ i u edu _/_/_/_/_/ LOOK FOR IT IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR YOU_/_/_/_/_/_/ g s ------------------
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