Classical social processes: Attractor and computational models

Attractor models provide a generalized way to represent processes found throughout science. A fuller articulation of the attractor framework requires that it be addressed qualitatively and conceptually as a nonlinear mathematical order residing between cyclical and random processes. Many significant nonlinear social processes have been identified and analyzed in classical social theory. These include the circulation of the elites (Pareto), cultural dynamics (Sorokin), social differentiation (Durkheim) and rationalization in modern institutions (Weber). The present discussion develops a qualitative consideration of such classical social processes as attractor systems, and discusses possible applications of such models in computational social science.