An emergence principle for complex systems

Abstract

From elementary system graph representation, systems are shown to belong to only three states: simple, complicated, and complex. First two have been studied over past centuries. Last one originates in existence of threshold above which components interaction overtakes outside interaction, leading to system self-organization which filters outer action, making it more robust with emergence of new behaviour not predictable from components study. The threshold value, expressed in terms of coupling system parameters, is verified to recovers limits found in a broad range of domains in Physics and Mathematics, giving explicit criterion for emergence in complex system. Application to manmade systems concentrates on the balance between relative system isolation when becoming complex and delegation of more "intelligence" in adequate frame between new augmented system state and supervising operator. Entering complexity state opens the possibility for the function to feedback onto the structure, ie to mimic technically the early invention of Nature. © 2009 ICST Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering.