Coping with Uncertainty: Insights from the New Sciences of Chaos, Self-Organization, and Complexity

by Uri Merry

Overview

This study applies the findings of the new nonlinear sciences to understanding the processes of growing complexity and intensifying chaos in the modern world. It also identifies and reviews approaches for living and coping with these trends. Uri Merry seeks to clarify the role of chaos in the transformation of the social sciences to new orders by re-examining and re-evaluating some of the basic tenets of modern social and behavioral science in light of theories of chaos, self-organization, and complexity. Divided into three sections, the work provides an overview of the major findings of the new science of chaos; analyzes why chaos is on the upsurge and why human society is experiencing such anxiety about it; and surveys some of the major approaches for dealing with chaos in society, organizations, and our personal lives.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780275949105
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	03/30/1995
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.14(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.56(d)

About the Author

Uri Merry holds a PhD from the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he has taught in the Graduate School of Education. He is the author or coauthor of 4 books, including Organizational Transformation (Praeger, 1986).

Table of Contents

Preface
The New Sciences
What Is Chaos?
Order and Science
How Chaos Develops
The Science of Self-Organization
The Science of Complexity
The Growth of Uncertainty
The Complexity Spiral
The Control Trap
The Shifting Eras
The Adaptation Crisis
Coping with Uncertainty
Living with Uncertainty
Transforming Ourselves
The Coming Era
The Self-Organizing Universe
Human Agency in Evolution
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Findings from the new sciences of chaos, self-organization, and complexity light the way toward helping individuals and societies cope with uncertainty. After an overview of the current advances in the new sciences, the author focuses on how the new sciences manifest themselves in nations, institutions, and families, and discusses why uncertainty is intensifying. The final chapter on human agency in evolution through creating guided imagery of the future should give the wary reader an idea of the broad scope of the book. Paper edition $18.95. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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