6. Emergence
John H. Holland
in Complexity: A Very Short Introduction
‘Emergence’ looks at the relations between building blocks, generated systems, and the phenomenon of emergence. To understand emergent phenomena, it is necessary to describe the emergence ...
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3. Explanation in science
Samir Okasha
in Philosophy of Science: Very Short Introduction (2nd edn)
‘Explanation in science’ begins with Carl Hempel’s covering law model of explanation, which says that to explain a phenomenon is to show that its occurrence follows deductively from a ...
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10. Applied chaos: can we see through our models?
Leonard A. Smith
in Chaos: A Very Short Introduction
‘Applied chaos: can we see through our models?’ investigates the application of chaotic models. Traditional statistics has exploited data-based models, such as the persistence, advective, ...
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7. Real numbers, real observations, and computers
Leonard A. Smith
in Chaos: A Very Short Introduction
‘Real numbers, real observations, and computers’ examines the relation between numbers in mathematical models, the real world, and in computer simulations. Real measurements and all ...
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9. Predictability: does chaos constrain our forecasts?
Leonard A. Smith
in Chaos: A Very Short Introduction
‘Probability: does chaos constrain our forecast?’ explores the accuracy of forecasting. Prediction allows us to examine the link between our models and the real world. However, forecasts ...
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10. Dream consciousness
J. Allan Hobson
in Dreaming: A Very Short Introduction
‘Dream consciousness’ describes how modern sleep science has contributed to the dramatic progress of the last decade in understanding the brain basis of consciousness, and how that ...
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3. Working a career
Stephen Fineman
in Work: A Very Short Introduction
How do we define a career? It can be defined by a single term. Alternatively it can be defined by a series of disconnected occupations. The attractiveness of various careers ebb and flow ...
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8. The Ethics of Information
Luciano Floridi
in Information: A Very Short Introduction
‘The ethics of information’ explores the ethical implications of the information revolution. The RPT model states that information can be treated as a resource, a product, or a target. All ...
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5. Meat-eating
David DeGrazia
in Animal Rights: A Very Short Introduction
Can we regard the harm caused to factory farm animals as necessary? We do not need to eat meat in order to live or even to stay healthy. ‘Meat-eating’ examines the ethics of eating meat by ...
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1. Models
Timothy Gowers
in Mathematics: A Very Short Introduction
‘Models’ introduces the concept and purposes of mathematical models. From working out the best trajectory for throwing a stone, rolling a pair of dice, and predicting population growth and ...
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8. Sorry, wrong number: statistics and chaos
Leonard A. Smith
in Chaos: A Very Short Introduction
‘Sorry, wrong number: statistics and chaos’ investigates the challenges posed by chaos to statistical estimation. Samples cannot be used in chaos theory as they are in statistics. Many ...
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2. The beginning of secular feminism
Margaret Walters
in Feminism: A Very Short Introduction
‘The beginning of secular feminism’ explores the early secular self-assertion of women, and the difficulties and criticisms they encountered. The significant role of Royalist women during ...
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8. Tracing human origins and history
Claudio Tuniz
in Radioactivity: A Very Short Introduction
‘Tracing human origins and history’ shows how radioactivity-based geochronometers and advanced radiation-based microscopes have answered many questions about human ancestors. Argon-argon ...
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7. Co-evolution and the formation of niches
John H. Holland
in Complexity: A Very Short Introduction
What is a niche? ‘Co-evolution and the formation of niches’ explains that the term ‘niche’ is widely used to describe an important part of the hierarchical organization of complex adaptive ...
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2. Embryonic stem cells
Jonathan Slack
in Stem Cells: A Very Short Introduction
‘Embryonic stem cells’ looks at mammalian embryo development and how embryonic stem (ES) cells are grown. ES cells are grown in tissue culture from the inner cell mass of a mammalian ...
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5. Movers and shakers
David Blockley
in Structural Engineering: A Very Short Introduction
What do a jumbo jet, a cruise ship, a long span bridge, and a tall skyscraper have in common? They are, in essence, gigantic tubes or boxes that act as beams. ‘Movers and shakers’ examines ...
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5. Risk perception
Baruch Fischhoff and John Kadvany
in Risk: A Very Short Introduction
‘Risk perception’ examines how people understand risk, and how this understanding influences decision-making. Effectively making a risk decision requires an individual to have an ...
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7. Statistical computing
David J. Hand
in Statistics: A Very Short Introduction
‘Statistical computing’ explores the role of information technology in statistical analysis. As computer power has increased, models have become more and more advanced. Somewhat ...
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6. Statistical models and methods
David J. Hand
in Statistics: A Very Short Introduction
‘Statistical models and methods’ explores the construction of models. Models are a representation of the system being studied. These can be mechanistic, i.e. rooted in an underlying theory, ...
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4. Second creation
J. L. Heilbron
in The History of Physics: A Very Short Introduction
The throwing of all philosophy into doubt inspired three important schemes for placing physica on firm foundations or limiting its claims to secure natural knowledge. ‘Second creation’ ...
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