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International Workshop on Multi-Agent Systems and Agent-Based Simulation

MABS 2000: Multi-Agent-Based Simulation pp 49–67Cite as

Simulating Emergence and Downward Causation in Small Groups

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Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Computer Science ((LNAI,volume 1979))

Abstract

Emergence has been a central issue not only in computational models of social systems, but also throughout 20th century sociological theory. In this paper, I first define the key concepts of emergence, downward causation, and bi-directional causation, and I identify these processes in an example of improvised dialog. I then draw on emergentist trends in sociological theory to propose a computational model of collaborative emergence among small groups of improvising agents.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Washington University in St. Louis, Program in Social Thought and Analysis, Campus Box 1183, 63130, Saint Louis, MO

    R. Keith Sawyer

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  1. R. Keith Sawyer
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Policy Modelling, Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun Building, M1 3GH, Manchester, UK

    Scott Moss

  2. Department of Software Engineering and Computer Science, University of Karlskrona/Ronneby, 372 25, Ronneby, Sweden

    Paul Davidsson

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Keith Sawyer, R. (2000). Simulating Emergence and Downward Causation in Small Groups. In: Moss, S., Davidsson, P. (eds) Multi-Agent-Based Simulation. MABS 2000. Lecture Notes in Computer Science(), vol 1979. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44561-7_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-44561-7_4

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-540-41522-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-540-44561-6

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