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Nature 459, 332-334 (21 May 2009) | doi:10.1038/459332a; Published online 20 May 2009
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Computation: The edge of reductionism
P.-M. Binder1
Abstract
Research at the frontier between computer science and physics illustrates the shortcomings of the reductionist approach to science, which explains macroscopic behaviour using microscopic principles.
In his 1972 paper "More is different", Philip Anderson1 claimed that multi-component physical systems can exhibit macroscopic behaviour that cannot be understood from the laws that govern their microscopic parts — a feature known as emergent or complex behaviour. Anderson's position is at odds with that of Stephen Hawking, who once suggested2 that, as soon as all fundamental laws of the Universe are understood, we will in principle be able to explain all macroscopic phenomena.
- P.-M. Binder is in the Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Hawaii, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, USA, and the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara.
Email: pbinder@hawaii.edu
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