Reply #9: "More is different" - Philip Anderson, Nobel Laureate, Physics [View All]

Dr. Anderson (one of the originators of "complexity theory")
is referring to the "emergence" of higher levels of organization
from lower levels in systems with huge numbers of "particles".
For example, viscosity is an emergent property of large numbers
of water molecules. The calculation of viscosity from first
principles of quantum mechanics is way too complex to do.

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> it's the machinery that allows us to make teachers, medicine,
> and keep our air clean. It's us writ large.

After thinking more, I do believe that you missed an important
point of my argument. Maybe you didn't; but let me explain my
concern.

Would you say that "you" are one brain cell "writ large"? One
cell "knows" a lot. It knows how to stay alive, how to do its
job, when to divide, when to die, how to fight an infection,
etc." But one cell is simply not big enough to have a conscious
thought, an agenda, free will. Those are "emergent properties".

Likewise, our country is a "super-organism". It has a different
timescale, a different agenda, different reactions to events than
individual citizens. It makes collective decisions about large scale
things, like Civil Rights or the Environment. One citizen can try
to help with his local environment, but if the country decides to cancel
the pollution control laws, the citizen's effort will be for naught.

Right now, our country is like a drunk. The consciousness in charge
is having a great time, while it is poisoning the rest of the body.
Restoring democracy would be like sobering up, listening to your body
and your mind, dealing with your inner demons.

I would be interested in your response.

arendt