Simply put, chaos theory deals with “behavior that follows set rules but becomes nearly impossible to predict over the long term.” It’s not “completely random” like rolling dice; rather, it has a cause-and-effect formula (determinism), yet the future remains unpredictable.
1) Three Key Features to Understand First
① Determinism (fixed rules)
It’s a world in which the same conditions “should” produce the same results.
Examples: Planetary motion, pendulums, and weather generally follow the laws of physics.
② Sensitivity to Initial Conditions (Butterfly Effect)
Even a slight change in starting conditions can significantly deviate from the results after a short time.
For this reason, in reality, “initial conditions cannot be perfectly measured,” and predictions quickly become unpredictable.
③ Appears Random, but Is Not Random
Although graphed, it appears chaotic, but in fact fits into a “defined range of shapes.”
This “fitting shape” is the attractor (orbit of attraction), which we’ll discuss later.