Universal Dynamics, a Unified Theory of Complex Systems. Emergence, Life and Death

Abstract

A universal framework is proposed, where all laws are regularities of relations between things or agents. Parts of the world at one or all times are modeled as networks called SYSTEMS with a minimum of axiomatic properties. A notion of locality is introduced by declaring some relations direct (or links). Dynamics is composed of "atomic" constituents called mechanisms. They are conditional actions of basic local structural transformations (``enzymes''): indirect relations become direct (friend of friend becomes friend), links are removed, objects copied. This defines a kind of universal chemistry. I show how to model basic life processes in a self contained fashion as a kind of enzymatic computation. The framework also accommodates the gauge theories of fundamental physics. Emergence creates new functionality by cooperation - nonlocal phenomena arise out of local interactions. I explain how this can be understood in a reductionist way by multiscale analysis (e.g. renormalization group).