Constructal Theory of Social Dynamics (eBook)

Contents 5
Preface 11
List of Contributors 15
The Constructal Law in Nature and Society 18
1.1. The Constructal Law 18
1.2. The Urge to Organize Is an Expression of Selfish Behavior 22
1.3. The Distribution of Human Settlements 30
1.4. Human Constructions and Flow Fossils in General 34
1.5. Animal Movement 39
1.6. Patterned Movement and Turbulent Flow Structure 46
1.7. Science as a Constructal Flow Architecture 48
References 49
Constructal Models in Social Processes 51
2.1. Introduction 51
2.2. Natural Versus Social Phenomena: An Important Distinction? 52
2.3. Case Studies: Two Social Networks 54
2.4. Conclusions 64
References 66
Tree Flow Networks in Urban Design 67
3.1. Introduction 67
3.2. How to Distribute Hot Water over an Area 67
3.3. Tree Network Generated by Repetitive Pairing 71
3.4. Robustness and Complexity 75
3.5. Development of Configuration by Adding New Users to Existing Networks 76
3.6. Social Determinism and Constructal Theory 84
References 86
Natural Flow Patterns and Structured People Dynamics: A Constructal View 87
4.1. Introduction 87
4.2. Patterns in Natural Flows: The River Basins Case 87
4.3. Patterns of Global Circulations 90
4.4. Flows of People 92
4.5. Conclusions 98
Constructal Pattern Formation in Nature, Pedestrian Motion, and Epidemics Propagation 100
5.1. Introduction 100
5.2. Constructal Law and the Generation of Configuration 101
5.3. Constructal Pattern Formation in Nature 102
5.4. Constructal Patterns Formation in Pedestrian Motion 107
5.5. Optimizing Pedestrian Facilities by Minimizing Residence Time 118
5.6. Constructal View of Self-organized Pedestrian Movement 123
5.7. Population Motion and Spread of Epidemics 124
References 129
The Constructal Nature of the Air Traffic System 133
6.1. Introduction 133
6.2. The Constructal Law of Maximum Flow Access 134
6.3. Relevant Results for Aeronautics 138
6.4. Application to the Air Traffic System 141
6.5. Conclusions 156
Sociological Theory, Constructal Theory, and Globalization 160
7.1. Introduction 160
7.2. Theorizing the Global 167
References 172
Is Animal Learning Optimal? 174
8.1. Reinforcement Learning 174
8.2. What are the Alternatives to Optimality? 179
References 180
Conflict and Conciliation Dynamics 181
9.1. The Natural and the Social Sciences 181
9.2. Conflict and Conciliation Dynamics (CCD) 184
9.3. CCD Flow Chart Representation of a Conflict and Peace Process 186
9.4. Empirical Checks and Discussion 191
9.5. Conclusions 193
References 194
Human Aging and Mortality 195
10.1. Introduction 195
10.2. The Random Walk Model 196
10.3. Findings from Empirical Applications 200
10.4. Extensions of the Random Walk Model 204
10.5. Conclusions 206
References 207
Statistical Mechanical Models for Social Systems 209
11.1. Summary 209
11.2. Introduction 209
11.3. Generalized Location Systems 212
11.4. Modeling Location Systems 213
11.5. Illustrative Applications 221
11.6. Conclusions 233
References 233
Discrete Exponential Family Models for Ethnic Residential Segregation 236
12.1. Introduction 236
12.2. Potential Determinants of Ethnic Residential Segregation 237
12.3. Research Methodology 240
12.4. Simulation Results 243
12.5. Conclusion 255
References 255
Corporate Interlock 258
13.1. Abstract 258
13.2. Introduction 258
13.3. Corporate Interlocks 260
13.4. Data 263
13.5. Methodology 263
13.6. Analysis 264
13.7. Conclusion 272
References 272
Constructal Approach to Company Sustainability 274
14.1. Introduction 274
14.2. Sustainability and Its Evaluation 275
14.3. The Constructal Law of Maximum Flow Access 278
14.4. The Structural Theory of Thermoeconomics 280
14.5. Application to Company Sustainability 283
14.6. Conclusions 287
References 288
The Inequality Process Is an Evolutionary Process 290
15.1. Summary 290
15.2. Introduction: Competition for Energy, Fuel, Food, and Wealth 290
15.3. The Gamma PDF Approximation to the IP’s Stationary Distribution in the w Equivalence Class 295
15.4. The IP, an Evolutionary Process 298
15.5. The Empirical Evidence That Robust Losers Are the More Productive Particles 301
15.6. Conclusions 304
References 305
Constructal Theory of Written Language 308
16.1. Introduction 308
16.2. Written Language 308
16.3. First Pairing Level 311
16.4. Second Pairing Level 318
16.5. Conclusions 324
References 325
Life and Cognition 326
17.1. What is Life? 326
17.2. Psyche, the “Higher” Cognition 327
17.3. Nature as Matter, Unique-ness and Kaos 333
17.4. Consequences 335
17.5. Historicity, Instinct, Intelligence, and Consciousness 339
17.6. Nature and Cognitive Computer Science 341
17.7. Constructal Law, in Depth 348
17.8. A Never-Ending Story 349
References 351
Index 355