Mathmos

Mathmos is a neologism, primarily used in speculative fiction and technical writing, to describe complex, dynamic, self-organizing systems, often of a computational or mathematical nature. The term emphasizes the emergent properties and unpredictable behaviours arising from the interactions of numerous simple components within the system. The term draws an analogy between the fluid, ever-changing forms of lava lamps (a product trademarked as "Mathmos") and the intricate, seemingly alive patterns observable in these complex systems.

The concept of a mathmos often involves feedback loops, chaotic dynamics, and non-linear relationships between components. A key characteristic is the lack of centralized control; the overall behaviour emerges from the local interactions of individual elements. This bottom-up, self-organizing approach is often contrasted with top-down, hierarchical control systems.

Applications of the "mathmos" concept can be found in fields such as artificial life, swarm robotics, decentralized algorithms, and the modeling of social and biological systems. The term is used to convey the idea that these systems are not simply collections of parts, but rather exhibit a form of emergent "life" or behaviour arising from their mathematical and computational underpinnings. It is not a strictly defined scientific term, but rather a descriptive metaphor used to facilitate understanding of complex systems.

The term's origins are somewhat murky, but it appears to have gained traction in the late 20th and early 21st centuries within communities interested in complexity science and emergent behaviour. It is often used in discussions concerning the potential dangers and opportunities presented by increasingly complex and autonomous technological systems.