The new science of chaos has stimulated much interest in many diverse fields, meteorology, economics, dynamics, physiology, molecular physics, nuclear physics. The idea behind 'chaos' is that order underlies what appear to be chaotic systems. Technically this is known as sensitive dependence on initial conditions . A small change in the initial input into a system can have pronounced effects on the outcome. Over time the outcome might diverge greatly from that which might be expected.
Chaos lies in the realm of the non-linear.
Order can be found in linear processes. Change occurs, but we can predict the change over time. Fractal 'A curve or surface generated by some repeated process involving successive subdividision. Recursion See recursion. A Catastrophic History Mathematically derived theories exist which have been applied in social modelling.