Simplistic Complexity

我們的時代正在發生著前所未有的變化，伴隨著多個領域新科技革命的洶湧浪潮、世界格局的持續動盪和加速重塑，組織與個體所處的世界愈加呈現出不確定性(uncertainty)、模糊性(ambiguity)、複雜性(complexity)以及快變性(changeability)(簡稱UACC)。和諧管理理論誕生於中國改革開放的初期，源於系統理論，已歷經30多年的研究。面對UACC環境帶來的挑戰，和諧管理理論給出了一套運用人類擁有的知識、經驗和一定的創造力，融合東西方智慧，圍繞目標理解、分析和解決管理問題的途徑。本書是和諧管理理論研究過去30餘年的探索工作的總結，為未來的深化研究工作奠定了基礎，也為我們在UACC環境下應對管理問題開啟了一條新的路徑。

語言是一個複雜適應系統(complex adaptive system，或“適應性複雜系統”)，複雜性(complexity)是關於規律性的研究，一個系統的複雜性是對系統規律性的最簡描述長度(蓋爾曼1994)。由於語素音節表(morpheme-syllabary)包含了一種語言的所有音節和音節的組成單位(聲韻調)及其組合規則，音節分佈模式與音節單位之間的組合規律可用來度量語言複雜性，其中，音系複雜度(phonetic system complexity)是音節與音節單位及其組合規則的規律性，音系相似度(phonetic system similarity)是不同語言的音節表上音節分佈關係的一致性。根據以上界定，本書設計了音系複雜度和音系相似度的計算方法，並基於對漢語語言學傳統中的韻書、韻圖以及趙元任(1930)等方法的分析，設計了語素音節表調查法。本文使用這一方法調查了四種白語方言的語素音節表，獲得了四種白語方言的完備的音節數據，這是目前所見第一次對白語方言音節的系統調查。據此所作的量化分析結果顯示，四種白語方言以及漢語普通話的音系相似度符合白語母語者的經驗判斷，但因遠白語的音系複雜度低於其他白語方言，而與漢語普通話之間具有最高的音系相似度，原因是它的音系正在向漢語靠攏。白語和漢語之間的關係長期眾說紛紜，認識清楚白語的性質及其與漢語之間的關係具有重要的理論價值。使用語素音節表來調查和歸納音系單位，得到的音系具有確定性；音系複雜度和音系相似度把音節分佈關係作為比較分析的對象，因為避免了語言分類工作中特徵選擇及其賦值標準的困難，研究方法和結論具有實證性，為相關工作提供了可檢驗的參照。

Public policy is a key concept for international arbitration and is practically relevant because public policy is enshrined in the New York Convention and almost all national laws as a ground to resist enforcement or to annul an arbitral award. However, due to its theoretical complexity anddynamic nature, it has been acknowledged as being one of the most misused grounds and the approach of arbitration scholars to the topic has also often been fragmentary. Public Policy and Mandatory Laws in International Arbitration offers a comprehensive account of a key concept for international arbitraion by two leading experts in the field. The book puts forward the argument that it is easier and more apposite to identify principles of public policy at a regionallevel or at a level where several states share a common legal background and tradition. The book focuses on common law principles of public policy, and public policy in English law in particular. The authors use their extensive experience a

Traveling easily through a thousand years of history, The Bright Ages reminds us society never collapsed when the Roman Empire fell, nor did the modern world did wake civilization from a thousand year hibernation. Thoroughly enjoyable, thoughtful and accessible; a fresh look on an age full of light, color, and illumination. --Mike Duncan, author of Hero of Two Worlds: The Marquis de Lafayette in the Age of Revolution A lively and magisterial popular history that refutes common misperceptions of the European Middle Ages, showing the beauty and communion that flourished alongside the dark brutality--a brilliant reflection of humanity itself.The word "medieval" conjures images of the "Dark Ages"--centuries of ignorance, superstition, stasis, savagery, and poor hygiene. But the myth of darkness obscures the truth; this was a remarkable period in human history. The Bright Ages recasts the European Middle Ages for what it was, capturing this 1,000-year era in all its complexity and fundament