Complexity as a Fundamental Constraint: From Church-Turing to Chicken vs Zombies
Complexity shapes the limits of what can be computed, solved, or predicted—exerting influence from abstract theory to everyday games. At its core, complexity reveals how simple rules can generate intractable, seemingly infinite problems when systems grow and interact. This article explores the deep connections between computational limits, information theory, real-world dynamics, and the playful chaos of Chicken vs Zombies.
The Emergence of Complexity as a Fundamental ConstraintComplexity arises in dual dimensions: computationally, as problems that resist efficient solution, and physically, as systems that evolve unpredictably. In computation, the Church-Turing thesis defines the boundary of what algorithms can solve—problems within the limits of Turing-computable functions, but beyond which remain undecidable.