Open Dialogue // Emergence

Most of us have heard the phrase, “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.” In complex systems, we call this phenomenon “emergence,” and while it might seem a little mystical, it’s actually an everyday occurrence.

If you’ve been moved by a sunset over the ocean, reveled in Bach’s sonatas, taken a ride on a motorcycle, baked a cake, or laughed with friends, then you’ve experienced emergence. Mechanical systems have emergence, but emergence in living systems is neither mechanical nor magical. So how does emergence actually work and why is it so important in understanding our complex world?

This conversation will be free-form, which means it might meander into adjacent topics. No need to prepare or bring anything but your curiosity and an open mind.