The Concept of Emergence

Emergence refers to complex patterns, behaviors, or properties that arise from simple interactions among individual parts but are not predictable solely from understanding those parts. For example, a flock of birds flying in intricate formations emerges from each bird following basic rules, yet the overall pattern is more complex than any single bird. This concept applies across various fields, illustrating how new characteristics or systems develop spontaneously through collective interactions, leading to novel phenomena that cannot be fully explained by examining individual components alone.