Abstract
This paper attempts to apply chaos theory to social organization. It begins with a mathematical definition of chaos. Specifically, the geometric concept of attractor is explored; phase space and Poincaré maps are discussed and applied to the concept of attractor; and nonlinearity is conceptually defined. We then apply the mathematics of chaos to social systems by showing how a nonlinear equation might be used to describe organization and how data derived from a simple univariate equation can be converted into a multivariate Poincaré map. The conclusion section identifies three approaches to analyzing chaos in social organization: metaphorical analysis, mathematical modeling, and data collection. Finally, possible uses of chaos are explored, as are the shortcomings of such analysis.
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