arXiv subjects

Rainer E. Zimmermann

Publications and source records attributed to Rainer E. Zimmermann.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2004

The Emergence of Bologna and its Future Consequences. Decentralization as Cohesion Catalyst in Guild Dominated Urban Networks

The following paper is on the emergence of observable complexity in urban networks visualized as product of essentially non-observable social processes. The methodology unfolded here draws on recent insight of econophysics in the strict sense under a top-down perspective of laying the foundations for a modern view to the evolution of dynamical structures in nature. The conception presented here deals with a section of ongoing cooperative research work being undertaken by the authors in collaboration with Giorgio Colacchio (now U Lecce). A first perspective as to the basic aspects of approach has been given in a joint paper in order to lay down the main ideas in some detail: R.E.Zimmermann, A.Soci, G.Colacchio (2001): Reconstructing Bologna. The City as an Emergent Computational System. An Interdisciplinary Study in the Complexity of Urban Structures. Part I: Basic Ideas & Fundamental Concepts. http://www.arXiv.org/pdf/nlin.AO/0109025 v2.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2003

Cosmological Natural Selection Revisited. Some Remarks on the Conceptual Conundrum and Possible Alleys

Following the selection metaphor as introduced by Lee Smolin in his 1997 book with respect to a possible model of the reproduction of Universes, this model is being reconstructed utilizing the strict analogical form of the metaphor chosen. It is asked then for the genotypal level associated with the primarily phenotypal model, and it is asked in particular where the information processing mechanism of that cosmological sort of selection could actually be found. It is argued that massive black holes in the centres of galaxies may play this important role. Some consequences on black holes in general are discussed then pointing to the necessity to actually revisit the concepts of virtual and actual black holes also.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2002

Decentralization as Organizing Principle of Emergent Urban Structures

With a view to the ongoing Bologna project (www.arXiv.org/pdf/nlin.AO/0109025) general organizing principles of emergent structures in social systems are being discussed with a view to the meaning of decentralization. It is proposed to introduce decentralization as a principle for organizing emergent structures in a generic way utilizing aspects of the insight gained by the Santa Fe school dealing with self-organized criticality. The techniques utilized come from graph theory, category theory, and in particular quantum gravity, which bear a strong potential for a multitude of applications in research fields with a significant interdisciplinary scope. This is especially important for applications in the organization of social systems which usually call for an interaction of logic and hermeneutic.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2001

Reconstructing Bologna. The City as an Emergent Computational System - A Study in the Complexity of Urban Structures. Part I: The Basic Idea and Fundamental Concepts

The conceptual background for a detailed study of the urban form of the city of Bologna is discussed with a view to modern methodological insight as it is being presented by recent results of complexity theory and the theory of self-organized criticality. The basic idea is to visualize the city of Bologna as an example of a massively parallely organized and interacting complex computational system in the sense of these recent theories. It is proposed to relate aspects of urban evolution to a universal concept of evolution which is governing all processes in nature. The universality of this approach is thought of as being an epistemological advantage as compared to more classical studies utilizing primarily local and specific methods for their modelling procedures. To actually establish whether this is in fact an advantage or not will be one of the main results of this present series of papers. In this very first part of the study, the basic idea is explicated in some detail, and the fundamental concepts are introduced in order to clarify the terminology utilized in the following. Two more parts of this study will follow in due time.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2001

Recent Conceptual Consequences of Loop Quantum Gravity. Part III: A Postscript On Time

With a view to the results discussed in the first two parts of this paper, the concept of time is revisited oncemore and chosen as an example in order to demonstrate the meaning of fundamental in both physical and philosophical terms. It is shown that if arguments are given in favour of or against the concept of time, then their ontological state has to be clarified in the first place.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2001

Recent Conceptual Consequences of Loop Quantum Gravity. Part II: Holistic Aspects

Based on the foundational aspects which have been discussed as consequences of ongoing research on loop quantum gravity in the first part of this paper, the holistic aspects of the latter are discussed in this second part, aiming at a consistent and systematic approach to eventually model a hierarchically ordered architecture of the world which is encompassing all of what there actually is. The idea is to clarify the explicit relationship between physics and philosophy on the one hand, and philosophy and the sciences in general, on the other. It is shown that the ontological determination of worldliness is practically identical with its epistemological determination so that the (scientific) activity of modelling and representing the world can be visualized itself as a (worldly) mode of being.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2001

Recent Conceptual Consequences of Loop Quantum Gravity. Part I: Foundational Aspects

Conceptual consequences of recent results in loop quantum gravity are collected and discussed here in view of their implications for a modern philosophy of science which is mainly understood as one that totalizes scientific insight so as to eventually achieve a consistent model of what may be called fundamental heuristics on an onto-epistemic background which is part of recently proposed transcendental materialism. This enterprise is being understood as a serious attempt of answering recent appeals to philosophy so as to provide a conceptual foundation for what is going on in modern physics, and of bridging the obvious gap between physics and philosophy. This present first part of the paper deals with foundational aspects of this enterprise, a second part will deal with its holistic aspects.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2001

Topoi of Emergence. Foundations and Applications

We discuss aspects of emergence by introducing the concept of negator algebra referring to topos-theoretic results obtained by Vladimir Trifonov some time ago. As a possible application of this concept we present an example from non-linear economic processes concerning the evolution of the global crude oil market during the second half of the 20th century.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2001

Basic Aspects of Negator Algebra in SOC

Recent developments in loop quantum gravity and topological quantum field theory are being mirrored with a view to the emergent structure of self- organized criticality (SOC). Referring back to an earlier paper [nlin.AO/ 0105064], the relationship of SOC to negator algebra is discussed. It is shown that introducing the categorial perspective leads to further holistic conclusions of considerable universality. This present paper shall serve as a preparation of a concrete research project under way designed to illustrate this very universality. Hence, it belongs to a series of recent publications discussing the modern and fruitful interaction between philosophy and the sciences, beyond mere historical aspects and the traditional rephrasing of well-known scientific results.

nlin.AO↗

arXiv2001

Beyond the Physics of Logic: Aspects of Transcendental Materialism or URAM in a Modern View

It has been shown at other occasions that recent results of modern physics can be used to shed some more light onto the foundations of the world, provided the actual task of philosophy is being re-interpreted in terms of a theory which is following up the results of science rather than laying the grounds for the latter, contrary to what the original intention of Aristotelian "prima philo- sophia" would imply. As it turns out, the interpretation of the main results of present research dealing with aspects of quantum information theory and quantum gravity, respectively, as well as with self-organized criticality, suffices to re-construct a large class of phenomena not only within the field of physics proper, but also within chemistry, biology, and even the social sciences. We show that questions of ultimate reality and meaning can only be answered within a framework of speculative philosophy which is rooted though in what sceptic philosophy is able to derive from scientific results.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2000

Classicity from Entangled Ensemble States of Knotted Spin Networks. A Conceptual Approach

Referring to a conception put forward by Stuart Kauffman in his "Investigations", it is shown how the onset of classicity can be visualized in terms of an emergent process originating in entangled ensemble states of knotted spin networks. The latter exhibit a suitable autocatalytic behaviour effectively producing knots by knots acting upon other knots. In particular, a quantum computational structure can be described underlying spin networks such that most conditions for a partial ordering are not more valid for the latter. A concep- tual argument is given then indicating that on a fundamental level, physics is non-local and a-temporal, and hence does not admit of the concept of causality. Hence, modelling the emergence of classicity in terms of a percolating web of coherence eventually decohering (in using a cellular automata architecture) does not imply the necessity of visualizing histories of directed percolation as causal sets. These aspects are compatible though with the recent concept of spin foams which do not actually imply distinguished directions of time flow on the micro-level.

gr-qc↗

arXiv2000

Loops and Knots as Topoi of Substance. Spinoza Revisited

The relationship between modern philosophy and physics is discussed. It is shown that the latter develops some need for a modernized metaphysics which shows up as an ultima philosophia of considerable heuristic value, rather than as the prima philosophia in the Aristotelian sense as it had been intended, in the first place. It is shown then, that it is the philosophy of Spinoza in fact, that can still serve as a paradigm for such an approach. In particular, Spinoza's concept of infinite substance is compared with the philosophical implications of the foundational aspects of modern physical theory. Various connotations of sub-stance are discussed within pre-geometric theories, especially with a view to the role of spin networks within quantum gravity. It is found to be useful to intro-duce a separation into physics then, so as to differ between foundational and empirical theories, respectively. This leads to a straightforward connection bet-ween foundational theories and speculative philosophy on the one hand, and between empirical theories and sceptical philosophy on the other. This might help in the end, to clarify some recent problems, such as the absence of time and causality at a fundamental level. It is implied that recent results relating to topos theory might open the way towards eventually deriving logic from physics, and also towards a possible transition from logic to hermeneutic.

gr-qc↗