Frequently Asked Questions on Emergence
1. Definition
1.1. What is emergence?
Emergence is a catch-all word for a way of looking at systems, artificial (simulated) or real. It is a framework for explaining phenomena, a paradigm for understanding complex systems. It is not a property that some systems have and others do not, but rather a stance taken by an observer that places special importance on a number of components:
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randomness
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simple, interacting agents
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distributed control
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limited resources
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surprising results
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explainable by perceived levels
Because emergence is a perspective, it necessarily involves two systems: the observer and that which is being observed. Therefore, some components (such as "surprising results" and "levels") are non-scientific concepts, yet very real aspects of the paradigm nonetheless. Most of science attempts to remove the observer from the system being observed. Attempting to do so when defining emergence leads to a paradox: <state paradox here>.
Emergence is not the only such stance in science that partly lies in the observer. We believe intelligence, agency, autonomy, organization, and many other concepts are necessarily anchored to an observer.
1.2. Does emergence necessarily involve the idea of "surprise"?
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Is there anything inherently special about the things we've been calling "surprising"?
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Is Langton's ant highway really different from any other ant spaghetti?
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Are glider guns (in Conway's Life) really more interesting than traffic lights?
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And Wolfram's CA classes -- what did we decide about them, again?
