Socionic Multi-Agent Systems Based on Reflexive Petri Nets and Theories of Social Self-Organisation

This contribution summarises the core results of the transdisciplinary ASKO project, part of the German DFG's programme Sozionik, which combines sociologists' and computer scientists' skills in order to create improved theories and models of artificial societies. Our research group has (a) formulated a social theory, which is able to explain fundamental mechanisms of self-organisation in both natural and artificial societies, (b) modelled this in a mathematical way using a visual formalism, and (c) developed a novel multi-agent system architecture which is conceptually coherent, recursively structured (hence non-eclectic) and based on our social theory. The article presents an outline of both a sociological middle-range theory of social self-organisation in educational institutions, its formal, Petri net based model, including a simulation of one of its main mechanisms, and the multi-agent system architecture SONAR. It describes how the theory was created by a re-analysis of some grand social theories, by grounding it empirically, and finally how the theory was evaluated by modelling its concepts and statements.Multi-Agents Systems, Petri Nets, Self-Organisation, Social Theories

Overview on agent-based social modelling and the use of formal languages

Transdisciplinary Models and Applications investigates a variety of programming languages used in validating and verifying models in order to assist in their eventual implementation. This book will explore different methods of evaluating and formalizing simulation models, enabling computer and industrial engineers, mathematicians, and students working with computer simulations to thoroughly understand the progression from simulation to product, improving the overall effectiveness of modeling systems.Postprint (author's final draft

Self-organization and social science

Abstract Complexity science and its methodological applications have increased in popularity in social science during the last two decades. One key concept within complexity science is that of self-organization. Self-organization is used to refer to the emergence of stable patterns through autonomous and self-reinforcing dynamics at the micro-level. In spite of its potential relevance for the study of social dynamics, the articulation and use of the concept of self-organization has been kept within the boundaries of complexity science and links to and from mainstream social science are scarce. These links can be difficult to establish, even for researchers working in social complexity with a background in social science, because of the theoretical and conceptual diversity and fragmentation in traditional social science. This article is meant to serve as a first step in the process of overcoming this lack of cross-fertilization between complexity and mainstream social science. A systematic review of the concept of self-organization and a critical discussion of similar notions in mainstream social science is presented, in an effort to help practitioners within subareas of complexity science to identify literature from traditional social science that could potentially inform their research

Extensão da biblioteca Repast para desenho em tempo real de redes de Petri em representação de simulações multi-agente

A utilização de plataformas de modelação e de simulação baseada em agentes tem aumentado ultimamente em comunidades de investigação de diversos domínios científicos. A ferramenta Repast (Recursive Porous Agent Simulation Toolkit) é uma das plataformas mais utilizadas. A biblioteca é de utilização livre e o seu código fonte é fornecido gratuitamente, o que facilita a sua extensão a novas funcionalidades. Algumas das características ausentes nesta ferramenta, que poderiam auxiliar o estudo de simulações, são as noções de concorrência e de paralelismo. As representações e modelações gráficas destas características, na simulação multiagente, podem ser de grande utilidade. Este trabalho tem como objectivo colmatar esta questão através de uma extensão ao Repast de forma a permitir o desenho em tempo real de Redes de Petri em representação de simulações multi-agente.The use of agent-based modelling and simulation toolkits has been increasing lately in the research communities of various scientific fields. The tool Repast (Recursive Porous Agent Simulation Toolkit) is one of the most widely used platforms. The library is a free open source toolkit, which facilitates its extension to new features. Some of the features absent in this tool, which could help the study of simulations, are the concepts of competition and parallelism. The modelling and graphical representations of these features, in multi-agent simulation, can be very useful. This thesis aims to remedy this issue by conducting an extension to Repast, to design realtime Petri Nets representing multi-agent simulations

Overview on Agent-Based Social Modelling and the Use of Formal Languages

The use of agent-based modelling and simulation techniques in the social sciences has flourished in the recent decades. The main reason is that the object of study in these disciplines, human society present or past, is difficult to analyse through classical analytical techniques. Population dynamics and structures are inherently complex. Thus, other methodological techniques need to be found to more adequately study this field. In this context, agent-based modelling is encouraging the introduction of computer simulations to examine behavioural patterns in complex systems. Simulation provides a tool to artificially examine societies where a big number of actors with decision capacity coexist and interact. However, formal modelling in these areas has not traditionally been used compared to other fields of science, in particular in their use of formal languages during the modelling process. In this chapter, the authors aim to revise the most relevant aspects on modelling in social sciences and to discuss the use formal languages by social scientists

Zur Bildung der Ordnung der Bildung. Vorschlag für ein transdisziplinäres Forschungsprogramm zur Ordnungs- und Erkenntnisbildung – und für einen soziologischen Beitrag

Ordnungsbildung und Erkenntnis bedingen einander. Erkenntnis setzt die Beobachtung von Ordnungsstrukturen voraus oder deren Schöpfung durch Abstraktion und Modellbildung. Beiträge aus unterschiedlichen Bereichen universitärer Forschung untersuchen Strukturen, die einen Bezug haben zu (partiell) autonomen Akteuren (beziehungsweise Agierenden, Agenten) und den dynamischen Prozessen, in denen sie entwickelt werden. Dabei ablaufende Erkenntnisprozesse erfordern interobjektiv erfahrbare, teilweise auch in Symbolik und Ritualen fassbare Ordnungsstrukturen, auch wenn diese erst simultan mit Handlungs- oder Erkenntnisprozessen entstehen. Rekursive Bezüge können zu Formen der Selbstorganisation führen. Bei höher entwickelten Strukturen können Aspekte des Wissens, Lernens (und Vergessens) einbezogen werden und zusätzlich durch emotionale Zustände verstärkt oder abgeschwächt werden. • Wie entstehen Struktur und Ordnung? • Wie werden sie stabilisiert, modifiziert, revolutioniert, restabilisiert? • Wie werden sie zerstört und aufgelöst? • Wie lässt sich das Verhältnis von Ordnung/Struktur und Wandel/Prozess fassen und (gegebenenfalls formal oder im Rechner) modellieren? • Welche institutionalisierten Mechanismen spielen dabei welche Rolle? • Wie prägen diese Mechanismen die Auseinandersetzungen zwischen Akteuren um "richtiges" und "falsches" Handeln und " richtiges" und "falsches" Wissen von diesem Handeln (Realitätsdefinitionen, Ordnungs- und Zielvorstellungen, Legitimationen)? • Welche Wechselwirkungen bestehen zwischen "stummen" Verhaltensordnungen (Handeln) und "beredter" symbolvermittelter Reflexion eben dieser Verhaltensordnungen (Reden und Wissen)? Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler hatten sich am 5.9.2005 an der Universität Hamburg zu einem Workshop über "Ordnungsbildung und Erkenntnisprozesse" zusammengefunden. In diesem Band sind zahlreiche der gehaltenen Beiträge gesammeltFormation of order and cognition are interdependent. Knowledge presupposes the observation of order structures or their creation through abstraction and modelling. Contributions from different areas of university research examine structures that relate to (partially) autonomous actors (or agents) and the dynamic processes in which they are developed. Processes of knowledge that take place in this context require structures of order that can be experienced interobjectively, and in some cases can also be grasped in symbolism and rituals, even if these structures are created simultaneously with processes of action or knowledge. Recursive references can lead to forms of self-organization. In more highly developed structures, aspects of knowledge, learning (and forgetting) can be included and additionally strengthened or weakened by emotional states. On November 5, 2005, scientists came together for a workshop on "Formation of Order and Knowledge Processes" at the University of Hamburg. In this volume, numerous of the given talks and articles are collected