Nobel prize winner Gell-Mann lectures

Although titled "Plectics: the study of simplicity and complexity," Murray Gell-Mann's Monday lecture, which was not just for science majors, encompassed much more, including the hot topic of sustainability.

Gell-Mann is a 1969 recipient of the Nobel prize in physics for his theory of elementary particles and named quarks, the building blocks of all particles, including protons and neutrons. He is known for this extensive work, and for his book, "The Quark and the Jaguar: Adventures in the Simple and Complex."

Eloquent, though down to earth in his speech, Gell-Mann explained how that which is complex is derived from that which is simple. He explained that simplicity is the basis of complexity, making the argument that the fundamental parts that construct the complex are very simple, but that a series of chance events or accidents create complexity.

"This is the same kind [of tie] that Monica gave to Bill," said Gell-Mann, holding up a neck-tie for an example. Showing the pattern of the print demonstrated the simple basis of the more complex whole. He also made the point that both simplicity and complexity are in the eye of the beholder, saying that we may look at the tie for its pattern, but that a dry-cleaner would look at the tie in terms of the simplicity and complexity of the stains on the tie.

Gell-Mann described complex adaptive systems that stem from this understanding. The simple data collected from past and present experiences has certain regularities, known as schemata. A known schema plus additional data can be used to predict future behavior, which, along with the consequences of the behavior create selection pressures. The selection pressures will then affect the schema, either by supporting it, modifying it, or replacing it. This is then a complex adaptive system, showing how the simple creates the complex and can be affected by chance events that can have an effect somewhere in the process.

"There must be complex adaptive systems all over the universe," said Gell-Mann. His main example of a complex adaptive system was science itself. Theories are thus the different schemata which, via this complex adaptive system, are modified, purifying science.

However, Gell-Mann noted the presence of "frozen accidents," those things which have little to do with the complex adaptive system, but are the chance effects that alter schemata and create more complexity. Gell-Mann cited extinction of cultures as the world becomes more accessible to many people. "Diversity is being threatened," he said.

Building from this, Gell-Mann said the whole was not just the sum of the parts. He complained that most of science and most of the famous scientists are known for their work in very specific areas without looking at the whole. Because of frozen accidents the simple parts come together to create a more complex whole that cannot alone be described by the parts.

When speaking of a group of workers who were looking at the future of their company as a whole, Gell-Mann said, "Everyone else seemed to hate them. No one understood what they said." He used this example to show how people, at this point in time, find it difficult to see the whole rather than just the small, simpler parts. Another example of this is when a person looks at a difficult problem and then, in order to solve it, breaks it down into smaller parts.

Gell-Mann's argument is that we need to look more at the whole to ensure our future, and not just the smaller parts which show only the more immediate effects rather than long term effects.

This brings forth the idea of sustainability. Gell-Mann read the definition of sustainable. "Sustainable - quality that is not purchased at the expense of the future." Gell-Mann believes sustainability is the affect of viewing the whole.

"We can't consider our air, our water, our wildlife like free commodities," he said. Gell-Mann commended Oberlin College on the sustainable Environmental Science Center that was recently constructed, using it as an example of why this is a special time in history. "We are finally taking a crude look at the whole."