| Topic: | Re:Importance of Emergence |
| Posted by: | Todd |
| Date/Time: | 04/02/2004 21:57:43 |
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Hi to all on the thread. I would like to deepen my understanding of emergence. I am going to offer the following metaphor as a representation of the phenomena of emergence. In response I would like any feedback of the type. "Yeah that's absolutely right!" or "You've got it all wrong!" or anything in between. The metaphor is as follows and is based on computer modelling of the flight of flocks of birds... It is known that many types of birds fly in flocks and execute amazing aerobatics as groups with few or no collisions. At one time this was considered a very enigmatic phenomena (in the same way that juggling was once considered magic, until it was demystified) The movement of flocks of birds has now been emulated very accurately by simply setting two "intentions" for EACH INDIVIDUAL BIRD. (From the birds (1st) position) 1. Fly at the same rate as the birds next to me. 2. Keep the birds that I am next to all at the same distance from me. The birds can not execute these intentions perfectly (thank goodness), but by attempting to (in the computer simulations anyway) amazing aerobatic group flying will result. So... The birds individually have no intention to fly aerobatically as a group, yet they do. In this metaphor the aerobatic maneuvers of the group would be an emergent phenomena resulting from the interactions of the intentions of the individual birds. Have I got it? and What haven't I got? Thanks in advance. Todd |