Butterflies have always been the symbol of regeneration and transformation. Humanity is now in the midst of profound changes that could lead to a new civilization. Yes, humanity is on the verge of a great leap in its evolution as a biological species! And this trend is driven by our decisions and actions.
The Butterfly symbol reminds us that we live in an emerging world in which our decisions and actions really matter! It reminds us that we live in a world of connectivity, that we are not alone, but together. In partnership we can achieve much more! We live in a plentiful Univers and not exploitation and competition will bring us this wealth, but collaboration and partnership!
”Fractality” is a watchword for a new way of thinking about the collective behaviour of many basic but interacting units. To be more precise, our definition is that fractality is the study of the behaviour of macroscopic collections of such units that are endowed with the potential to evolve in time. Their interactions lead to coherent collective phenomena, so-called emergent properties that can be described only at higher levels than those of the individual units. In this sense, the whole is more than the sum of its components.
A Fractal System is a complex, non-linear, interactive system which has the ability to adapt to a changing environment. Such systems are characterised by the potential for self-organisation, existing in a nonequilibrium environment. FS’s evolve by random mutation, self-organisation, the transformation of their internal models of the environment, and natural selection. Examples include living organisms, the nervous system, the immune system, the economy, corporations, societies, and so on. In a fractal system, inter-dependent agents interact according to certain rules of interaction, evolving to maximise some measure like fitness. The agents are diverse in both form and capability and they adapt by changing their rules and, hence, behaviour, as they gain experience. Fractal systems evolve historically, meaning their experience is added onto them and determines their future trajectory. Their adaptability can either be increased or decreased by the rules shaping their interaction. Moreover, unanticipated, emergent structures can play a determining role in the evolution of such systems, which is why such systems show a great deal of unpredictability. However, it is also the case that a FS has the potential of a great deal of creativity that was not programmed-into them from the beginning. For example, change can be understood as a kind of self-organisation resulting from enhanced interconnectivity as well as connectivity to the environment, the cultivation of diversity of viewpoint of organisational members, and experimenting with alternative "rules" and structures.
For many years scientists saw the universe as a linear place. One where simple rules of cause and effect apply. They viewed the universe as a big machine and thought that if they took the machine apart and understood the parts, then they would understand the whole. They also thought that the universe's components could be viewed as machines, believing that if we worked on the parts of these machines and made each part work better, then the whole would work better. Scientists believed the universe and everything in it could be predicted and controlled. However hard they tried to find the missing components to complete the picture they failed. But it was in the world of quantum physics that the strangest discoveries were being made and it was apparent that the very smallest sub nuclear particles were behaving according to a very different set of rules to cause and effect.
Gradually as scientists of all disciplines explored these phenomena a new theory emerged – fractal theory, a theory based on relationships, emergence, patterns and iterations. A theory that maintains that the universe is full of systems and that these systems are complex and constantly adapting to their environment.
The most important properties of fractal systems are:
Emergence – Rather than being planned or controlled the agents in the system interact in apparently random ways. From all these interactions patterns emerge which informs the behaviour of the agents within the system and the behaviour of the system itself.
Co-evolution – All systems exist within their own environment and they are also part of that environment. Therefore, as their environment changes they need to change to ensure best fit. But because they are part of their environment, when they change, they change their environment, and as it has changed they need to change again, and so it goes on as a constant process. Some people draw a distinction between complex adaptive systems and complex evolving systems. Where the former continuously adapt to the changes around them but do not learn from the process. And where the latter learn and evolve from each change enabling them to influence their environment, better predict likely changes in the future, and prepare for them accordingly. Fractal systems are as well adaptive as evolving.
Sub-optimal – A fractal systems does not have to be perfect in order for it to thrive within its environment. It only has to be slightly better than its competitors and any energy used on being better than that is wasted energy. A fractal systems once it has reached the state of being good enough will trade off increased efficiency every time in favour of greater effectiveness.
Requisite Variety – The greater the variety within the system the stronger it is. In fact ambiguity and paradox abound in fractal systems which use contradictions to create new possibilities to co-evolve with their environment.
Connectivity – The ways in which the agents in a system connect and interact to one another is critical to the survival of the system, because it is from these connections that the patterns are formed and the feedback disseminated. The relationships between the agents are generally more important than the agents themselves.
Simple Rules – Fractal systems are not complicated. The emerging patterns may have a rich variety, but like a kaleidoscope the rules governing the function of the system are quite simple. A classic example is that all the water systems in the world, all the streams, rivers, lakes, oceans, waterfalls, etc. with their infinite beauty, power and variety are governed by the simple principle that water finds its own level.
Iteration – Small changes in the initial conditions of the system can have significant effects after they have passed through the emergence - feedback loop a few times (often referred to as the butterfly effect).
Self Organising – There is no hierarchy of command and control in a fractal system. There is no planning or managing, but there is a constant re-organising to find the best fit with the environment.
Edge of Chaos – Systems exist on a spectrum ranging from equilibrium to chaos. A system in equilibrium does not have the internal dynamics to enable it to respond to its environment and will slowly die. A system in chaos ceases to function as a system. The most productive state to be in is at the edge of chaos where there is maximum variety and creativity, leading to new possibilities.
Nested Systems – Most systems are nested within other systems and many systems are systems of smaller systems (Holarchic organizational model)
Fractal Butterfly reminds us that we are living in an open Universe where our decisions and actions really matter. Life evolves through a process of autopoiesis from simplicity to diversification and subsequent integration of diversity through collaboration. It reminds us that humanity, as a whole is prepared for a new leap forward towards a higher integration of our diversity through collaboraton and symbiosis.