Understanding Emergence/Examples of Strong Emergence

Strong emergence, suggests that emergent properties cannot be fully explained by the interactions of constituent parts. In other words, the whole is more than the sum of its parts, and new properties arise that cannot be predicted from a reductionist perspective. Consciousness and the emergence of novel biological functions are often cited as examples of strong emergence.

Most researchers who have studied these claims reject the existence of strong emergence.

Here are several examples of strong emergence (if it exits) occurring in nature:

1. Consciousness:
   • Consciousness is often considered a prime example of strong emergence. The subjective experience of self-awareness and the ability to perceive and process the world around us arises from the intricate interactions of neurons in the brain, but the emergence of conscious thought cannot be fully explained by understanding individual neural connections alone.
2. Life from Non-Life (Abiogenesis):
   • The emergence of life from non-life, also known as abiogenesis, is a complex example of strong emergence. While the chemical and physical interactions of molecules can lead to the formation of self-replicating systems, the transition from non-life to life involves a qualitative shift that is not fully understood.
3. Morality and Ethics:
   • Moral and ethical systems that guide human behavior are often considered strongly emergent. While they stem from individual and cultural beliefs, the emergence of complex moral frameworks and ethical principles cannot be directly deduced from individual beliefs or experiences.
4. Qualia and Sensory Experience:
   • Qualia, the subjective qualities of sensory experiences, are examples of strong emergence. The experience of color, taste, or pain arises from the interactions of neurons and sensory organs, but explaining the subjective richness of these experiences solely through neural activity remains a challenge.
5. Human Language and Creativity:
   • Human language and creative expression involve strong emergence. While language is composed of individual words and grammatical rules, the emergence of complex sentences, metaphors, and artistic creations transcends the mere sum of linguistic components.
6. Macroscopic Quantum Phenomena:
   • Certain macroscopic quantum phenomena, like superconductivity and Bose-Einstein condensates, exhibit strong emergence. The behavior of a large number of particles in these states cannot be fully understood by analyzing individual particles; the emergent properties arise from the collective interactions of particles.
7. Economic Systems and Market Dynamics:
   • Economic systems can exhibit strong emergence in market dynamics. The behavior of markets, including financial bubbles and crashes, emerges from the interactions of individual agents and the intricate interplay of supply, demand, and investor sentiment.
8. Social Norms and Cultural Trends:
   • Social norms, cultural values, and trends are examples of strong emergence. These emerge from the interactions of individuals and communities, but their evolution and adoption involve complex dynamics that cannot be fully explained by analyzing individual behaviors.
9. Evolution of Complex Novel Traits:
   • The emergence of novel traits during evolution, such as the development of wings or complex sensory organs, can be considered strong emergence. While natural selection acts on small variations, the emergence of fundamentally new structures involves qualitative shifts that are not fully understood.
10. Emergence of New Ecological Niches:
    • The emergence of new ecological niches during environmental changes is an example of strong emergence. As species interact and adapt to changing conditions, entirely new ecological roles and relationships can emerge, leading to the development of new ecosystems.

These examples highlight how strong emergence involves the emergence of new properties, qualities, or phenomena that cannot be fully explained by analyzing the components or interactions at lower levels.