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From: siona@ucscb.UCSC.EDU (siona)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: fractals as bad science
Message-ID: <10148@saturn.ucsc.edu>
Date: 31 Dec 89 04:32:45 GMT
References: <119.256E54C5@uscacm.UUCP> <1247@becker.UUCP> <9144@cbmvax.commodore.com> <6780@lindy.Stanford.EDU>
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A fractal is merely a geometrical object generated through a recursive
algorithm.  As a concept, it is comparable in generality to that of 
geometrical objects generated through iterative algorithms, which 
forms the whole field of differential geometry.  I believe that a very 
large class of forms can be generated by both recursive and iterative 
algorithms; the difference lies in how much information is necessary 
to specify the algorithm.

We currently have a certain amount of prejudice towards the differential 
approach, because we have a three hundred year tradition of differential
calculus, and most of physics is expressed in differential equations.

However, we are beginning to develop mathematical models in such fields as
biology, where a recursive description is often much simpler.  

-- 
 Deirdre Des Jardins			        
 Internet:  ucscb!siona@ucsc.UCSC.EDU