Jim Rutt would define 'deterministic chaos' as a phenomenon in complex systems where outcomes are highly sensitive to initial conditions, making long-term prediction impossible despite the system being governed by deterministic laws. In deterministic chaos, even the tiniest variation in starting conditions can lead to vastly different results, which might give the appearance of randomness although each step follows precise rules. The concept illuminates the intricacies within systems that are orderly in principle but exhibit unpredictable behavior over time. Rutt would emphasize its relevance in understanding nonlinear dynamics in nature and in human designs, framing it as a critical insight into the limitations of predictability, despite the underlying deterministic processes.
See also: antifragile, attractor, emergence, evolutionary computing, self-organization