Studies On The Methodology Of Complexity Sciences

Complexity researches or complexity sciences, rising in 1980's, is thenew development of system science, and one of the frontiers of thecontemporary science. Because of its breakthrough in the methodology ofscience, complexity sciences is under forming, but it is praised as " the scienceof 21century". The arising of complexity sciences gives strong impact ontraditional methodology of science, such as reductionism, holism, etc. Themethodology of complexity sciences is a strong challenge and importantcomplement to traditional methodology of science, and has important meaningto the health progress to the complexity sciences itself.The general character of complexity sciences is that it cannot beresearched in reductionism completely, and needs transcend it. It is the revivalof the holism to some extent. However, it is not a holism research programcompletely, it also needs transcend holism. Therefore, from the view ofmethodology of science, complexity sciences is beyond the traditionalreductionism and holism and need keeps necessary tension between them. Wemust create new methodology for the complexity sciences based on thestrongpoint and weak-point of the reductionism and holism. We have reviewedthe relations among the complexity sciences, reductionism, and holism and putforward the new methodology for the complexity science---syncretism. Thesyncretism is a new methodology for the complexity sciences based on theharmony of the reductionism and holism. In the guide of syncretism, somemethodology principles are putted forward for the complexity researches.The syncretism must be embodied in research activities of the complexitysciences. Six methods are summarized for the complexity researches from theliterature of the complexity sciences. The six methods are metaphor method,modeling method, numerical method, algorithmic method, virtual method andmeta-synthetic method. This thesis has exploited these six methods in detail,and analyzed their applications in the complexity researches. These methodsare not recognized in tradition science research, but play important roles in thecomplexity sciences.