The Complexity Paradox: The More Answers We Find, the More Questions We Have

289 Pages·2014·3.527 MB·English

by  Kenneth Mossman

The Complexity Paradox

The Complexity Paradox
The More Answers We Find,
the More Questions We Have
KENNETH L. MOSSMAN
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Mossman, Kenneth L., 1946–2014.
The complexity paradox : the more answers we find, the more questions we have / Kenneth
Mossman.
pages cm
Includes glossary.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978–0–19–933034–8 (hardback)
1. Human biology—Philosophy. 2. Medicine—Philosophy. 3. Complexity
(Philosophy) 4. Biocomplexity. I. Title.
QP34.5.M74 2014
612—dc23
2014005827
1 3 5 7 9 8 6 4 2
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
In memory of
Blaire V. Mossman

CONTENTS
Preface xi
Acknowledgments xvii
About the Author xix
1. The Complexity Paradox
1
WHAT IS LIFE? 7
Information Storage and Retrieval 7
Complex Structure and Organization 8
Energy Use and Metabolism 9
Responsiveness to Changes in the Environment 11
Capacity for Growth and Development 12
REDEFINING LIFE 13
A ROADMAP TO THE BOOK 15
2. Laws to Live By
18
NATURE HAS NO CHOICES 18
THE MOTHER OF ALL LAWS 20
LAWS ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT AND DO NOT PREDICT EVERYTHING 25
LAWS OF PHYSICS AND REDUCTIONISM 28
DETERMINISTIC LAWS AND LIFE 30
3. Forces of Nature
32
MASS TRANSIT 33
THE ELECTRIC SLIDE 38
DRIVING FORCES 45
ALL PUMPED UP 47
MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU 49
vii
viii Contents
4. Biological Complexity
51
SYSTEM CONDITIONS AND STATES 52
COMPLEXITY MADE SIMPLE 55
Complex Biological Systems Have Many Components That Interact Nonlinearly
and Are Interdependent 55
Complex Systems Behave Unpredictably 56
Complex Systems Show Fractal Geometry and Physiology 58
Complex Systems Exhibit Emergent Properties 59
COMPLEXITY IN ACTION 62
COMPLEXITY IN HEALTH AND DISEASE 66
5. A Free and Independent Life
70
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING STABLE 71
FEEDBACK CONTROL 78
ACID-BASE BUFFERS 81
RHYTHMS OF LIFE 82
MORE THAN ENOUGH 83
RANDOM WALKS 86
THE WISDOM OF NATURE 89
6. Altered States
92
SCHRÖDINGER’S CAT 93
TOO MANY THINGS CAN GO WRONG 95
SEARCH AND DESTROY 99
IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER 107
MEDICINE WITHOUT BORDERS 109
BEYOND THERAPY 111
NOTHING IS SIMPLE 112
7. The Trinity
114
THREE DISEASES 115
Obesity 117
Diabetes 119
Heart Disease 120
CAUSES AND RISKS 120
WHERE’S WALDO? 126
PUT THE GUN DOWN 131
Contents ix
8. The Mother of All Diseases
134
A BRIEF CANCER OVERVIEW 135
A COMPLEXITY PERSPECTIVE 141
Disease Progression Is Unpredictable 142
Complexity Is Evident at Multiple Scales 142
Complex Systems Require Energy 142
The Root Causes of Disease Are Masked by Complexity 143
Complexity Offers Multiple Ways to Attack Disease 145
OTHER PERSPECTIVES 146
Cancer Development Is a Multistage Process 146
Cancer Is an Evolutionary and Ecological Process 147
Cancer Is a Systems Biology Problem 148
A CONSOLIDATED VIEW 150
SEARCH AND DESTROY 152
COMPLEXITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH 154
Screening 155
Prevention 158
9. Brain Drain
163
UNIQUE COMPLEXITY 164
The Brain as an Information Processor 165
Brain States and Mental States 166
Modularity and Plasticity 167
Mind and Body 167
ROAD TO OBLIVION 168
10. Desperately Seeking Methuselah
177
SEEDS OF AGING 180
WORN-OUT BODIES 182
Immune System Failure 182
Slowed Metabolism 184
CHEATING DEATH 185
BUILDING BETTER HUMANS? 187
Better Housekeeping 188
Radical Solutions 189
Inflammatory Control 189
Making Sense of Aging 190
AGING AS COMPLEXITY 191