chaos theory

Noun

chaos theory (countable and uncountable, plural chaos theories)

1. (uncountable) The study of chaos or disorder in systems, specifically iterative non-linear systems in which arbitrarily small variations in initial conditions become magnified over time, and where within apparent randomness there are underlying patterns; (countable) one of such theories.
   • Theoretical and numerical modelling research promises to bring us tantalizingly close to deterministic climate prediction in the near future, while proponents of "chaos" theories hint that prediction may be an illusive dream.1985 March, S. Unninayar, “Climate System Fluctuations, Monitoring”, in Proceedings of the Ninth Annual Climate Diagnostics Workshop: Held at the Dept. of Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State...
   • [David] Warsh gives three diverse examples spread throughout our century and indicating the broad nature of this punctuational challenge to gradualism (he might have supplied many more, including catastrophe and chaos theories in mathematics, and [Michel] Foucault's notions of social and...1992 October, Stephen Jay Gould, “Life in a Punctuation: A Visitor to Russia Reflects on Change in Nature and the Nature of Change”, in Alan P. Ternes, editor, Natural History, volume 101, number 10...