On Sep 7, 2009, at 6:39 PM, Nicholas Thompson wrote:
Owen,
You wrote:
I think it's simply the appearance within a time varying aggregate
system of a feature not apparently derived from its components'
interactions.
A perfect example of a non-"out there" definition. "Apparently"
implies
that further understanding, information, knowledge will dispel the
emergence. Many smart people hold that position,, but I am not one
of them
(;-})
Well, I was fudging a bit with "apparently". Formal emergence is
divided into two domains, weak and strong. If I understand it
correctly, irreversible phenomena are the strong emergence types,
while reversible are the weak.
In plan language, if the emergence is derived from ignorance, it is
weak. If it is fundamental (chaos, for example), it is strong.
-- Owen
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