Chapter 2: The Crucial Experiment
how do simple programs behave
gives a basic introduction to simple 1D CA.
Says that rule 30's mid line passes all known algorithm for randomness.
Shows that rule 110's has amazing random/organized behavior.
the need for a new intuition. p39
2 page non-tech commentary on why simple program creating complexity is counter-intuitive thus it needs a new intuition for its development.
why these discoveries were not made before p42
non-tech commentary on why “simple program creating complexity” is not discovered before. Summary:
- (1) computers are not there.
- (2) the intuition isn't developed.
- (3) for post 1900 studies (prime distribution, digits of π, nested systems, recreation math), traditional math accustomed people to focused on searching for regularity, and thus the possibility of systematic investigation of simple programs/system's behaviors is not developed.