Chapter 1: The Complexity of Emergence

The moment we believe we have unraveled Nature's mysteries, she reaffirms our ignorance. Nature is timeless and ever-present, concealing layers of complexity that continually prompt new inquiries. Consider a simple phenomenon like rain, which has been pouring heavily as I write. When was the last time you truly contemplated rain? You might think you understand it—after all, even young students learn about clouds, evaporation, and precipitation. Yet, if you probe a bit deeper, the simplicity fades. Rain is composed of water, but what constitutes water? More intriguingly, what gives water its wetness?

Emergence

Emergence is a concept that seems easy to grasp superficially, yet delving deeper reveals an intriguing journey. Let's revisit our water example. As you likely know, water consists of H2O molecules, formed by hydrogen and oxygen atoms. This is basic science, but it becomes perplexing upon reflection. Water is wet, yet individual hydrogen or oxygen atoms remain dry. It is only when hydrogen atoms bond with oxygen atoms to form H2O that the property of wetness emerges.

A more technical interpretation of emergence describes it as a phenomenon where certain properties or behaviors arise only when components interact as part of a larger system. While the wetness of water is a straightforward illustration, emergent phenomena span far beyond this simple example. Neuroscientist Erik Hoel once remarked, “I don’t think emergence is some rare or magical quality, but almost stupidly common.” He adds that “nothing in science makes sense without emergence.”

Once you start to observe emergent phenomena, they appear to be ubiquitous—found in biology, astrophysics, chemistry, physics, and even philosophy. Some theorists suggest that consciousness itself may be emergent. In fact, it could be argued that your existence, as well as the shared reality we experience, arises from the microscopic realm. The Dutch Institute for Emergent Phenomena (DIEP) insightfully states, “All the smooth experiences of wind blowing, music, sound or touch are the result of these emergent laws.”

Understanding emergence could be key to unlocking some of life's biggest mysteries, including the origin of life itself. Thankfully, many brilliant minds and organizations, such as DIEP, are tirelessly investigating this phenomenon.

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The Challenge of Studying Emergence

Studying emergence presents its own set of challenges. Its very essence contradicts the traditional reductionist approach, which involves dissecting systems into their fundamental components to uncover governing principles. Applying this method to emergent phenomena would be ineffective because these phenomena arise only when individual elements cooperate. It would be akin to separating hydrogen and oxygen atoms from water molecules and then questioning why they aren't wet.

Larissa Albantakis, a computational neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, emphasizes the need for a better understanding of how interactions among microscopic elements correlate with the macroscopic behaviors of a system. This inquiry has been a longstanding pursuit among scientists. The ongoing tension between quantum mechanics and general relativity adds yet another layer of complexity. The laws that govern our expansive macro world fail to apply at the microscopic level, which is ruled by a different set of principles. Discovering where these realms intersect could revolutionize our comprehension of the universe.

However, the conventional reductionist strategy falls short. So, what alternative methods can researchers employ to unravel the workings of emergent systems? Professor Jessica Flack from the Santa Fe Institute and director of SFI’s Collective Computation Group proposes a different approach to studying emergence.

Getting Creative

If I had to encapsulate the workings of Nature in three words, they would be cycles, patterns, and spectrums. These elements are omnipresent, manifesting in every conceivable shape, form, and timeframe. Flack's approach aligns with this fundamental truth. She envisions emergence as a spectrum and aims to better characterize the varying degrees of emergent phenomena.

For example, some systems are “screened off,” where micro-scale changes minimally impact macro-scale behavior, indicating low emergent activity. According to Flack, a crucial task for scientists is “to start quantifying this variation in screening off.” This understanding would enable researchers to design experiments that eliminate certain variables, thereby allowing them to utilize reductionism in a new context. In essence, scientists could still define large-scale behaviors in a way that facilitates backward reasoning to the microscopic level by experimenting with various influences.

Flack illustrates this by comparing it to examining how pressure, volume, and temperature affect different statistical properties. While researchers may not pinpoint a definitive cause of emergent behavior, they can identify the microscopic interactions or patterns that underpin the phenomenon.

A Shift in Perspective

Over the last few centuries, our approach to understanding the planet and our shared reality has been largely reductionist. We have dissected systems to their components and categorized them into disciplines like chemistry, physics, and biology.

It might be time to explore a new methodology, a subsequent stage in understanding how all elements interconnect. Emergence appears to be the dawn of this fresh pathway.

This article was originally published in the author’s free newsletter, Curious Adventure. It was edited and republished on Medium with her consent. Thank you for reading; your support is appreciated.

Chapter 2: Exploring Emergence Through Different Lenses

The first video titled "Sean Carroll on the Enigma of Complexity | Win-Win Podcast" delves into the intricate nature of complexity in our universe, exploring how seemingly simple components can lead to profound emergent properties.

The second video, "The Enigma of Black Hole Horizons," presented by Abhay Ashtekar from Penn State University, examines the perplexities surrounding black hole horizons and their emergent properties, offering insights into the fabric of spacetime.