ABSTRACT
Cellular automata can be thought of as discrete idealizations of partial differential equations, and studied using dynamical systems theory. Complex systems theory is a new and rapidly developing field. Much remains to be done. The second law of thermodynamics is an example of a general principle that governs the overall behaviour of many systems. Complex systems theory cuts across the boundaries between conventional scientific disciplines. It makes use of ideas, methods and examples from many disparate fields. Complex systems theory is now gaining momentum, and is beginning to develop into a scientific discipline in its own right. Several previous initiatives in the direction of complex systems theory made in the past have failed to develop their potential for largely sociological reasons. The initial state for a cellular automaton is a sequence of digits, say ones and zeroes. Different cellular automata carry out computations with different levels of complexity.
