Systems Theory & Chaos Theory

On Tuesday, the highlight of the class was the discussion of the Systems and Chaos Theories, which I found particularly interesting. While talking about the Systems Theory, Prof. Strate established a definition for a system - a whole composed of interdependent parts where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. A system generally features three attributes: structure, interaction, and relationship. From interaction, we get emergence. When parts form a system and interaction takes place, new content emerges. In coherence, we discussed the notion of autopoiesis which means self-making, life makes life. Autopoiesis describes the interactive nature of the internet. Through online intercommunication, people create their own society, culture, and world. The other highlight of the class, the Chaos Theory, claims that out of order emerges chaos and out of chaos emerges order. This is true because one cannot exist without the other. In correlation, we talked about the butterfly effect which is essentially a feedback loop that intensifies over time. A small occurrence that is repeated over and over again can create a massive effect. Information was once described as being the opposite of entropy; however, these new theories and concepts have shifted information in the middle of chaos and order. In order for things such as information in New Media to evolve, we need chaos. We cannot have information if there is no uncertainty.

The Chaotic Whole

Knowledge has taken upon several interpretations. In the 1960's Peter Drucker discussed how knowledge can be described as a commodity. Later on there were many discussions on systems and how they operate. Individuals came up with several related definitions such as closed systems, open systems, and the system theory. The system theory explains that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is because of several extra factors that aren't incorporated in the parts such as structure, interaction, and relationship. These outside factors from the parts make the whole that much more important and of greater importance. Many theories exclaim how order is the only way to obtain information, but with out a dab of chaos in any situation there would be no information available. Many views of this error lead to the enforcement of modern day atheism and the enlightenment of how christian faith may be faulted. Some intellectuals believe they have proved that life couldn't have been created without life itself, which is referred to as autopoiesis. As we progress through the course we have also come to the realization that many views conflict and with these views our evaluation of new media changes as well. Professor Strate has so far been able to direct us in the path of what is the best outlook on New Media with the information we have learned thus far, but we still have so much more to learn.