Fourth Annual WESS Interdisciplinary Conference on
General Evolutionary Systems
February 24, 1996
The Washington Evolutionary System Society is sponsoring the fourth annual
Interdisciplinary Conference on General Evolutionary Systems on February
24, 1996. The conference will be held at Reiss Science Building on the
campus of the cosponsor, Georgetown University, 37 th and "O" Street NW,
Washington, D.C.. Registration opens at 8:30 AM. The conference begins
at 9:30 AM and ends about 7:30 PM. The conference will feature three
symposia: Emergence, Evolution of Human Societies, and Philosophy of
Evolutionary Systems. Rapporteurs will summarize each session. The
following abstracts have been accepted for presentation:
1. L. Vekker and J. Allen, Psychology, George Mason University,
Fairfax, VA
"Evolutionary Similarity in Perceptual Development"
2. R. Anthony, IDA, Alexandria, VA
"The Phenomena of Emergence in Nature and Human Affairs"
3. R. Artigiani, History, US Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD
"A Social System's Approach to the Mind-Brain Problem"
4. J. Chandler, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
"A Global View of Emergence: Spontaneous Affinities and Hierarchical
Constraints"
5. R. Coren, Electrical Engr, Drexel Univ., Philadelphia
"Cycles of Changing 'World-View' in Western Society"
6. T. Dandridge, School of Business, NYU, Albany,
"An Exploration of Parallels Between Organizational Symbols and
Attractors in Dynamical Systems"
7. E. Dorsey, Computer Science, Howard Univ.,
"Second Order Cybernetics and Consensus: An EPA Case Study in
Cooperative Paradigms"
8. G. Farre, Philosophy, Georgetown University,
"The Phenomenon of Emergence: An Analysis"
9. S. Goonatilake, New School for Social Research, NY,
"Why Dawkin's Memes are not Alive: but Social-Psychologists' and
Anthropologists' Thoughts Are"
10. J. Gray, Naval Surface Weapons Lab, Dalgren, VA
"On the Notion of Entropy"
11. D. Houston and F. Abraham, Psychology, Univ. Vermont,
"Computer mediated Communications (CMC): A Bifurcation in Consciousness
and Culture?"
12. P. Kainen, Industrial Mathematics, Washington,
"Form as Computation"
13. R. Khuri, Falls Church, VA
"A Philosophical Examination of the Idea of Emergence"
14. C. Leake, Advanced Concepts Agency, Bethesda, MD
"Toward an Evolutionary Philosophy of Economics"
15. V. Levchenko, St. Petersburg, Russia
"The Evolution of the Biosphere and the Origin of Life"
16. J. Long, Notation Engr. Lab., George Washington Univ.,
"A Metaphysical System that includes Numbers, Rules and Bricks.
17. G. Percivall III, Crofton, MD
"Emergence as an Efficient Process of Nature"
18. A. Speckhard, Alexandria, VA
"Consciousness, Complexity, Self-Organization and the Catalyst for
Change"
19. A. Vogt, Mathematics, Georgetown Univ.,
"Dyson's Scenario for Prebiotic Evolution"
20. A.E.R. Woodcock, Synectics, Inc, Fairfax, VA
"Societal Dynamic Modeling of Low Intensity Conflict and Peace-keeping
Operations"
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Organizing Committee:
Jerry Chandler, Biochemist, National Institutes of Health,
George Farre, Philosophy, Georgetown University
John Gray, Physics, Naval Surface Weapons, Dalgren
Cliff Joslyn, Cybernetics, NASA
William Rowe, Systems Engineering, Rowe Research and Engr. Assoc.
Andrew Vogt, Mathematics, Georgetown University
Ben Weems, Comparative Literature, ret. McGill University
Registration: WESS members: $25.00
Non-WESS $50.00 (includes one yr. dues)
Students free
The Washington Evolutionary Systems Society is a non-profit organization.
In additon to this annual conference, we sponsor monthly dinner meetings,
WESScomm, "Cosmos to Consciousness", WESSwalks and WESSbooks.
For further information, contact Jerry LR Chandler, 703-790-1651 or
chandler@helix.nih.gov.