Bejan / Merkx Constructal Theory of Social Dynamics

1. Auflage 2007
ISBN: 978-0-387-47681-0
Verlag: Springer
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: 1 - PDF Watermark

E-Book, Englisch, 350 Seiten

Constructal Theory of Social Dynamics brings together for the first time social scientists and engineers who present predictive theory of social organization, as a conglomerate of mating flows that morph in time to flow more easily. The book offers a new way to look at social phenomena as part of natural phenomena, and examines a new domain of application of engineering such as thermodynamic optimization, thermoeconomics and 'design as science'.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Bejan, Adrian

Merkx, Gilbert W.

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Contents;5
2;Preface;11
3;List of Contributors;15
4;The Constructal Law in Nature and Society;18
4.1;1.1. The Constructal Law;18
4.2;1.2. The Urge to Organize Is an Expression of Selfish Behavior;22
4.3;1.3. The Distribution of Human Settlements;30
4.4;1.4. Human Constructions and Flow Fossils in General;34
4.5;1.5. Animal Movement;39
4.6;1.6. Patterned Movement and Turbulent Flow Structure;46
4.7;1.7. Science as a Constructal Flow Architecture;48
4.8;References;49
5;Constructal Models in Social Processes;51
5.1;2.1. Introduction;51
5.2;2.2. Natural Versus Social Phenomena: An Important Distinction?;52
5.3;2.3. Case Studies: Two Social Networks ;54
5.4;2.4. Conclusions;64
5.5;References;66
6;Tree Flow Networks in Urban Design;67
6.1;3.1. Introduction;67
6.2;3.2. How to Distribute Hot Water over an Area;67
6.3;3.3. Tree Network Generated by Repetitive Pairing;71
6.4;3.4. Robustness and Complexity;75
6.5;3.5. Development of Configuration by Adding New Users to Existing Networks;76
6.6;3.6. Social Determinism and Constructal Theory;84
6.7;References;86
7;Natural Flow Patterns and Structured People Dynamics: A Constructal View;87
7.1;4.1. Introduction;87
7.2;4.2. Patterns in Natural Flows: The River Basins Case;87
7.3;4.3. Patterns of Global Circulations;90
7.4;4.4. Flows of People;92
7.5;4.5. Conclusions;98
8;Constructal Pattern Formation in Nature, Pedestrian Motion, and Epidemics Propagation;100
8.1;5.1. Introduction;100
8.2;5.2. Constructal Law and the Generation of Configuration;101
8.3;5.3. Constructal Pattern Formation in Nature ;102
8.4;5.4. Constructal Patterns Formation in Pedestrian Motion ;107
8.5;5.5. Optimizing Pedestrian Facilities by Minimizing Residence Time ;118
8.6;5.6. Constructal View of Self-organized Pedestrian Movement;123
8.7;5.7. Population Motion and Spread of Epidemics;124
8.8;References;129
9;The Constructal Nature of the Air Traffic System;133
9.1;6.1. Introduction;133
9.2;6.2. The Constructal Law of Maximum Flow Access ;134
9.3;6.3. Relevant Results for Aeronautics ;138
9.4;6.4. Application to the Air Traffic System;141
9.5;6.5. Conclusions;156
10;Sociological Theory, Constructal Theory, and Globalization;160
10.1;7.1. Introduction;160
10.2;7.2. Theorizing the Global;167
10.3;References;172
11;Is Animal Learning Optimal?;174
11.1;8.1. Reinforcement Learning;174
11.2;8.2. What are the Alternatives to Optimality?;179
11.3;References;180
12;Conflict and Conciliation Dynamics;181
12.1;9.1. The Natural and the Social Sciences;181
12.2;9.2. Conflict and Conciliation Dynamics (CCD);184
12.3;9.3. CCD Flow Chart Representation of a Conflict and Peace Process;186
12.4;9.4. Empirical Checks and Discussion;191
12.5;9.5. Conclusions;193
12.6;References;194
13;Human Aging and Mortality;195
13.1;10.1. Introduction;195
13.2;10.2. The Random Walk Model ;196
13.3;10.3. Findings from Empirical Applications;200
13.4;10.4. Extensions of the Random Walk Model;204
13.5;10.5. Conclusions;206
13.6;References;207
14;Statistical Mechanical Models for Social Systems;209
14.1;11.1. Summary;209
14.2;11.2. Introduction;209
14.3;11.3. Generalized Location Systems;212
14.4;11.4. Modeling Location Systems;213
14.5;11.5. Illustrative Applications;221
14.6;11.6. Conclusions;233
14.7;References;233
15;Discrete Exponential Family Models for Ethnic Residential Segregation;236
15.1;12.1. Introduction;236
15.2;12.2. Potential Determinants of Ethnic Residential Segregation;237
15.3;12.3. Research Methodology;240
15.4;12.4. Simulation Results;243
15.5;12.5. Conclusion;255
15.6;References;255
16;Corporate Interlock;258
16.1;13.1. Abstract;258
16.2;13.2. Introduction;258
16.3;13.3. Corporate Interlocks;260
16.4;13.4. Data;263
16.5;13.5. Methodology;263
16.6;13.6. Analysis;264
16.7;13.7. Conclusion;272
16.8;References;272
17;Constructal Approach to Company Sustainability;274
17.1;14.1. Introduction;274
17.2;14.2. Sustainability and Its Evaluation;275
17.3;14.3. The Constructal Law of Maximum Flow Access;278
17.4;14.4. The Structural Theory of Thermoeconomics;280
17.5;14.5. Application to Company Sustainability ;283
17.6;14.6. Conclusions;287
17.7;References;288
18;The Inequality Process Is an Evolutionary Process;290
18.1;15.1. Summary;290
18.2;15.2. Introduction: Competition for Energy, Fuel, Food, and Wealth;290
18.3;15.3. The Gamma PDF Approximation to the IP’s Stationary Distribution in the w Equivalence Class;295
18.4;15.4. The IP, an Evolutionary Process;298
18.5;15.5. The Empirical Evidence That Robust Losers Are the More Productive Particles;301
18.6;15.6. Conclusions;304
18.7;References;305
19;Constructal Theory of Written Language;308
19.1;16.1. Introduction;308
19.2;16.2. Written Language ;308
19.3;16.3. First Pairing Level ;311
19.4;16.4. Second Pairing Level ;318
19.5;16.5. Conclusions;324
19.6;References;325
20;Life and Cognition;326
20.1;17.1. What is Life?;326
20.2;17.2. Psyche, the “Higher” Cognition;327
20.3;17.3. Nature as Matter, Unique-ness and Kaos;333
20.4;17.4. Consequences ;335
20.5;17.5. Historicity, Instinct, Intelligence, and Consciousness ;339
20.6;17.6. Nature and Cognitive Computer Science;341
20.7;17.7. Constructal Law, in Depth ;348
20.8;17.8. A Never-Ending Story;349
20.9;References;351
21;Index;355