“to Be or Not to Be? That Is [not] the Question”: Complexity Theory and the Need for Critical Thinking

If we assume that much of what we see around us is the result of underlying nonlinear processes then it follows that much of what we think we see is no more than a fi ltered version of a temporary pattern that will inevitably change both quantitatively and qualitatively. The aim of this chapter is to explore what it means to exist, or not, in terms of complexity theory. It is argued that the nature of object boundaries are quite different in complexity thinking than they are in conventional linear approaches which essentially assume that what-you-see-iswhat-there-is. The investigation of boundaries presented herein is based upon the assumption that the Universe itself is a complex system. It is argued that the notion of existence cannot be adequately represented by the binary opposition exist / not exist, but is a continuum. This conclusion leads to a complexity-inspired philosophy that highlights the important role of critical thinking and pluralism (theoretical, methodological, and paradigmatic) in making sense of life within a complex system.