Emergentie

Emergence

Studiewijzer 2024/2025

Globale inhoud

Emergence - the idea that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts - originally appeared within the context of philosophy of mind where consciousness was thought as a radical phenomenon, whereby the collection of billions of neurons gave rise to novel properties not contained in those of individual neurons. However, since the early 20th century philosophers and scientists alike have perfected and refined the concept of emergence as it was understood that emergent phenomena are ubiquitous in nature, spanning very small scales such as the world of particles or bacteria, to larger scales such as those pertinent to collective human behaviour, urban cities, and even to the scales involved in the most violent events in the universe.  

This course will discuss the history and philosophy of emergence and the attempts from both philosophers and scientists to constantly perfect its definition by means of examples. It will then discuss how different emergent phenomena in social, life and natural sciences can be understood using the same underlying principles and modelling. It will in particular introduce basic concepts and tools in mathematics, physics and programming that allow to visualise and understand interesting cases of emergence such as polarisation in magnets, crowds, opinion as well as epidemic spreading, predator/prey models and information cascades.

The course is divided into 3 parts: (1) statistical physics approach to emergence and social systems, (3) emergence in ecology and pattern formation, and (3) philosophy of emergence. 

Studiemateriaal

Literatuur

• All relevant literature will be available on Canvas on a weekly basis. It consists of essays by scientists and philosophers, including P. W. Anderson, Hodgson,  Nagel, Garfinkel and De Haro, as well as standard textbooks that cover the basics of network and probability theory, information cascades and how to code in python.

Syllabus

• Emergence: Introduction and course content

Practicummateriaal

Software

• Jupyter notebooks

Leerdoelen

• The student is able to describe the concept of "emergence".
• The student is able to analyse and study different models that exhibit emergent phenomena using mathematical methods and numerical simulation.
• The student is able to identify the distinctive features of emergence in various examples.
• The student is able to distinguish between the concepts of "emergence", "reduction" and related notions.
• The student is able to solve simple nonlinear differential equations and apply elements of network theory, graph theory, probabilistic theory and Bayes rules.
• The student is able to write an interdisciplinary essay that combines philosophical insights and mathematical modelling of a given case of emergent phenomena.

Onderwijsvormen

• Hoorcollege
• Werkcollege
• Zelfstudie
• Zelfstandig werken aan bijv. project/scriptie

During the lectures the students will be presented with notions and cases of emergence and reduction and how to think about them from a philosophical point of view. The students will also become acquainted with computer modelling and mathematical techniques to study emergent phenomena.

In the workcolleges the students will have the opportunity to discuss  concepts of emergence further, debate, inquire as well as practice exercise sets and modelling skills.

Self-study will allow the students to dive in depth into emergence by reading works by several scientists and philosophers who have different points of views on emergence, not always compatible.

In an interdisciplinary essay that combines philosophy with mathematics/simulation the students will have the opportunity to summarise their understanding of emergence and its many facets. 

Verdeling leeractiviteiten

Aanwezigheid

Aanwezigheidseisen opleiding (OER-B):

• 1. In geval van werkgroepbijeenkomsten is de student verplicht tenminste 7 van elke 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten bij te wonen, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer. Bij meer dan 8 werkgroepbijeenkomsten geldt dat de student steeds per (deel van) 8 bijeenkomsten maximaal 1 bijeenkomst mag missen. Indien de student minder dan het verplichte aantal bijeenkomsten heeft bijgewoond, kan het vak niet worden afgerond.
• In geval van een practicum is de student verplicht ten minste 90% van de practicumbijeenkomsten bij te wonen, tenzij anders aangegeven in de studiewijzer. In geval de student minder dan 90% heeft bijgewoond dient het practicum opnieuw te worden gevolgd.

Aanvullende eisen voor dit vak:

Some basic knowledge in mathematical methods, natural/social sciences and programming is needed. However, the course aims at being self-contained. The course will be taught in English, as such good knowledge of English is required.

In particular, the student would benefit from taking the course on mathematical methods (first-year Beta-Gamma) and Keerpunten in de Natuurwetenschappen. 

Special Covid-19 measures: We explicitly ask you not to come to campus for workgroups if you have any Covid-19 related symptoms (or you have to be in isolation etc.). In that case please notify your workgroup teacher and there will be an alternative for the workgroup attendance.  

Toetsing

There will be three exams evaluating the three parts of the course - each exam counts 20%, all exams a total of 60%.

An interdisciplinary essay of 2500 words (consisting of of both philosophical and mathematical/simulation elements) - 40% of the grade.

Toetsmatrijs (studentenversie)

Inzage toetsing

Via Canvas

Opdrachten

The exams are individual assignments.

The essay is a group assignment (groups of two).

Non-assessed assignments include the reading of relevant literature and solving exercise sheets.

Fraude en plagiaat

Dit vak hanteert de algemene 'Fraude- en plagiaatregeling' van de UvA. Hier wordt nauwkeurig op gecontroleerd. Bij verdenking van fraude of plagiaat wordt de examencommissie van de opleiding ingeschakeld. Zie de Fraude- en plagiaatregeling van de UvA: http://student.uva.nl

Weekplanning

Aanvullende informatie

Sociale veiligheid

We vinden het belangrijk dat je je op de UvA en bij Bèta-gamma veilig voelt. Krijg je onverhoopt te maken met ongewenst gedrag of voel je je onveilig, dan kun je terecht bij verschillende personen. Je melding wordt altijd vertrouwelijk behandeld. Kijk hier voor meer informatie over waar en bij wie je terecht kunt.

Feedback studenten afgelopen jaar

Vanaf 2013-2014 hebben we ervoor gekozen om d.m.v. onderstaande tabel de studenten meer inzicht te geven in de kwaliteitszorg. Daarom nemen we een korte weergave van de studentenevaluatie op en de daaruit voortvloeiende acties ter verbetering van het vak.

Contactinformatie

Coördinator

• dr. J. Armas

Docenten

• dr. Jácome Armas
• dr. Christian Hamster
• Merijn Moody
• dr. M.T. Pham PhD
• V.T. Seinen MSc