From Complexity to Creativity

This groundbreaking text applies the concepts of complexity science to provide a unified scientific explanation of all aspects of human creativity. The book clearly describes the psynet model-a novel complex-systems theory-that integrates ideas from computer science, mathematics, neurobiology, philosophy, and cognitive and personality psychology. Goertzel shows how common computer science algorithms, such as neural nets and genetic algorithms, fit into the mental and creative process, and proposes that the understanding of mathematics must be extended to successfully deal with the mind's workings.

Booknews

Presents a combination of interconnected theoretical, computational, and mathematical investigations, and a continuation of the research established in the author's previous books. Goertzel's (U. of Western Australia) psynet model is presented more clearly than in his earlier work, and the connections between this model and other approaches to complex cognitive systems are drawn in detail. Topics include dynamical systems, genetic algorithms, perceptual illusions, fractals, autopoietic systems, consciousness, time series analysis, dreams, personality theory, the World Wide Web. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.