a mathematical standpoint heterarchy is the more general category and subsumes hierarchy as a special case (von Goldammer et al., 2003). While heterarchy may be modeled mathematically, it need not rely on mathematical or spatial representat…Byrne, D. (1998). Complexity theory and the social sciences: An introduction. London, England: Routledge.
Chapman, R. (2003). Archaeologies of complexity. London, England: Routledge.
Crumley, C. L. (1979). Three locational models: An epis…
Manuel De Landa
philosopher · 2 mentions across 1 reading
In this course
Manuel De Landa is a theorist of complexity science and non-linear dynamics who argues that understanding social and material systems requires moving beyond hierarchical models toward heterarchical organizations that better account for emergent, self-organizing processes. The course readings invoke him to theorize how complex systems—whether technological, social, or artistic—operate through multiple simultaneous hierarchies and lateral connections rather than top-down command structures, a concept central to understanding how AI and cybernetic systems actually function in practice. His work enables the seminar to think beyond deterministic or centralized models of machine intelligence and instead consider how autonomous agents and distributed networks generate unpredictable behaviors and forms.
Mentioned in 1 reading
Appears alongside
People mentioned in the same passages — sorted by co-occurrence weight.
David Byrne 2David Graeber 2Carole L. Crumley 1Christine Ward Gailey 1Christopher S. Beekman 1Fred Valdez Jr. 1Friedrich Engels 1Jerrold E. Levy 1Michael B. Schiffer 1Nicholas Dunning 1Robert Chapman 1Robert M. Ehrenreich 1Thomas C. Patterson 1Vernon Scarborough 1William S. Baden 1Agrawal 1Angelbeck 1Elinor Ostrom 1Gunderson 1Harvey 1James C. Scott 1Kontopolous 1Nicos Mouzelis 1von Goldammer 1