Making hierarchy theory useful Tim Allen

1. Making hierarchy theory useful Tim Allen

2. Narrative Simplicity Complexity Hierarchical Many levels of constraint Links: large and small different types fast and slow Highly organized No Paradigm With Paradigm The story you told to make it simple. No! Properties of Complex Systems Hierarchical Many levels of constraint Links: large and small fast and slow different types

3. Narratives and Analogies Hamilton wrote a dictionary for Newtonian particles into Optical Geometry. (c.f. Voltage ≈ water pressure.) So if we can’t use reduction and models, what to do? Rosen(2000) says we can use analogy and tell narratives. Newtonian particles Optical geometry Reduction Reduction Wave mechanics Quantum mechanics Who says analogy is soft

4. SCALE NO WAY SCALE B i o s p h e r e B i o m e Landscape Ecosystem These are TYPES Community Population Organism T. F. H. A

5. Community Organism (tree) Ecosystem (decaying log) Landscape (upper surface of log) Population(of mosses on log) T. F. H. A

6. TYPE Identifies what is in the foreground Gives criteria for observation Gives equivalence to a class SCALE Grain Extent Spatial size Natural frequency in time Type vs Scale Allen TFH & TW Hoekstra (1992) Toward a unified ecology. Columbia Press

7. In the Observed Meetscriteria that were there in abstract. Requires observation. Does what I see meet the definition of the type In the Protocol Choosethe criterion for observation. Gives something to be met, but is itself a definition. Type(Criterion) Allen TFH & TW Hoekstra (1992) Toward a unified ecology. Columbia Press

8. In the Protocol Prescription of Grain for observation prescribes finest distinction. Prescription of Extent of the universe of discourse. In the Observed The size of the thing you see. Scales an example of a type. Scale Allen TFH & TW Hoekstra (1992) Toward a unified ecology. Columbia Press

9. Laws are: Inexorable General Rate dependent Structure independent Dynamical Rules are: Local Arbitrary Rate independent Structure dependent Linguistic Laws vs Rules H. H. Pattee (1978) The complementarity principle in biological and social structures. J. Social Biol. Struct. 1: 191-200

10. Realization of essence Organism enters world telling a narrative Successful narrative reinforces essence Essence Essence D N A T. F. H. A

11. Watergate scandal Richard Nixon Presidency Carter elected Election T. F. H. A

12. General Role Essence Type Relational function Specific Incumbent Realization Individual Organized structure UPPER VS LOWER Bailey1990 Rosen, 2000 Salthe 1985 Simon, 1962

13. INFINITE LAWS BOUNDED INFINITE FINITE ALLOWED UPPER RULES FINITEACTUAL LOWER

14. ∞ LAWS ? ∞ UPPER RULES Other Observer LOWER

15. LAWS INFINITE BOUNDED INFINITE FINITE ALLOWED Example defines the criterion UPPER Reinforce type RULES Criterion verified by example Realize structure LOWER FINITEACTUAL OBSERVER OTHER

16. Stepsto modeling • 0. Have a perception • 1. Ask a question • 2. Define type of the thing (assign to class) • 3. Choose a scaled measure of type (to fit size of example • 4. Notice a phenomenon • 5. Evaluate model 0 1 2 3 4 5 Ahl V & Allen TFH (1996) Hierarchy Theory, a vision, vocabulary and epistemology. Columbia, NYC

17. LAWS 2 5 INFINITE Evaluate model relative to assessed performance of the other OTHER Example demands a type FINITE, ALLOWED BYRULES 0 Perceive rather than observe something Class to which Structure belongs 4 Class defines the level of organization of the phenomenon Define type of the thing LOWER FINITEACTUAL 1 Verify that type applies to example The thing raising a question 3 Choose a measurement regime for example and type of structure. This gives level of observation OBSERVER

18. 0 1 2 3 4 5 While the steps to modeling apply on the observer side, they correspond to facets of the other

19. LAWS INFINITE 2 Equivalence in the equivalence class is the model of the essence 5 BOUNDEDINFINITE OBSERVER UPPER Success reinforces 4 Cause of phenomenon here essence Essence Structure enters observable world 1 Structure is successful 0 Mutual modification of structure and essence FINITEACTUAL LOWER Essence is realized in structure of a certain size Realized Structure OTHER 3 Dynamics becomes measurable

20. LAWS INFINITE Essence that causes pattern & structure Model evaluation Model invoked by equivalence 5 Loop that generates form and modifies essence Loop of model building The thing you see FINITEACTUAL OBSERVER OTHER

21. LAWS (Material Necessities) Evolved resistance to poison Model for allelpathy Natural selection of target population Tests for effect of poison Failed experiments Resistant target plants Effect of poison on target versus allelopath OBSERVER OTHER You can't show allopathy til it stops working

22. Laws (Material Necessities) History Observer Decision Context in which Fish Evolve Model of Toxicity Natural selection Assigned to class Map Territory Experimental calibration Adapted individuals realized Fish Subjected to Toxins OBSERVER OTHER

23. LAWS (Material Necessities) Complicated political events Peace time Politics Cycle is isolated Modify context Pundits proclaim, and the narrative becomes stuck in equivocation Realize structure Symbolic Representation Never challenges Narrative OBSERVER OTHER No test of narratives

24. LAWS (Material Necessities) Readily interpretable Real-time wins and losses War time strategies Plans and predictions Cycle is informed Modify context Realize structure Narrative gets real-time tests often and usually is shown to be of poor quality. Plans generate Real-time actions that change events unpredictably OBSERVER OTHER Fog of war: real-time tests of inadquate narratives

25. LAWS (Material Necessities) Forest pestilence, Forests products Good growth Adaptive managers of forests Plans fail or succeed Modify context Realize structure New plans turn on past management outcomes. Managers learn and identify tested principles Plans generate Real-time actions that change events unpredictably OBSERVER OTHER Why adaptive mangement works

26. LAWS (Material Necessities) Real ecological problems Ecologists in general, population biologists in particular Cycle is isolated Modify context Model becomes arcane and are rarely tested in realistic situations Realize structure Symbolic Representation Never challenges Narrative OBSERVER OTHER When population models don't matter

27. Laws (Material Necessities) Adaptive Management Narrative Engineer Ecologist Toxicologist Manager Model of Fisheries biologist History Observer Decision Context in which Fish Evolve Adaptive System Fish Subjected to Toxins OBSERVER OTHER

28. Move up-scale to get beyond self-organized emergence, and include other causalities Anticipated decline in resources influences plan Thermodynamics Physical system processes Linguistic planning element. Internal to System, external to thermodynamics Plan Holon Actual External Gradient

29. Plan Past vs Present Present vs Future Move up-scale to get beyond self-organized emergence, and include other causalities Thermodynamics Experience Get more efficient Unplannedadjustment in dissipation "Better" Degradation External Gradients