Abstract
Several representative attempts to apply catastrophe theory to biological and social science problems turn out on close analysis to be characterised by incorrect reasoning, far-fetched assumptions, erroneous consequences, and exaggerated claims. Catastrophe theory seems to have made no significant contributions to biology and the social sciences, and to have no advantage over other better-established mathematical tools which have been used to better effect.
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Zahler, R., Sussmann, H. Claims and accomplishments of applied catastrophe theory. Nature 269, 759–763 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/269759a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/269759a0
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