COMPLESSITÀ E CRITICA DELL’EPISTEMOLOGIA

Silvana Borutti

This article aims to clarify some aspects of the epistemological changes introduced by the paradigm of complexity in the 20th century conception of science. After reconstructing the main criticisms of the reductionist and determinist epistemological models, some aspects of the thought of complexity are identified: knowledge as a relationship; knowledge of the relationships and the concepts of organization and system; the autopoietic and dissipative structures; the arrow of time. Finally, reference is made to the physics of complex collective behaviour, studied by Giorgio Parisi.