What Are Fascinating Examples of Emergence for a School Project?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the concept of emergence, particularly in the context of examples that could be explored for a school project. Participants are seeking specific instances of emergence that demonstrate how properties at one scale can imply properties at another scale, with an emphasis on mathematical implications, interactions, and potential experiments.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant defines emergence as the process where properties at one scale imply properties at another scale, seeking examples that fit this definition.
  • Another participant suggests the emergence of classical mechanics from quantum mechanics as a potential example, but questions the nature of this emergence.
  • A different participant proposes temperature and pressure as examples of emergence.
  • Several examples of emergence are listed, including glass transition, biological signaling networks, left-handed/negative refractive index materials, and large-scale coherent structures in turbulent flow.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the nature of emergence, particularly regarding the relationship between classical mechanics and quantum mechanics. There is no consensus on specific examples, and multiple competing views remain regarding what constitutes a compelling instance of emergence.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express uncertainty about the implications of emergence and the definitions involved, indicating that the discussion may depend on varying interpretations of the concept.

MiKiDe
For a school project, I've got to choose a subject. I chose "Emergence", but I have to narrow it down a little bit.
So, that's why I'm creating this topic.

The definition of emergence that I use:
By emergence, I mean the fact that proprieties of one scale implies other proprieties by changing scale. This process is called emergence.

My question :
Do you have any example of emergence that may be interesting to study?

For this subject, I'd like:
- To show mathematically that one theory implies proprieties in another scale.
- that it has to deal with the term "interaction".
- And if possible, to make some experiment.

I hope my question is clear enough (and I'm sorry if I made some mistakes in English, I tried not to...).

Thanks in advance to all :smile:
 
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Last edited:
Thanks for your answer. I already read this, but I'm looking for more specific example.
For example, it is said that "The laws of classical mechanics can be said to emerge as a limiting case from the Rules of Quantum Mechanics applied to large enough masses": do you have any example of this?
 
MiKiDe said:
Thanks for your answer. I already read this, but I'm looking for more specific example.
For example, it is said that "The laws of classical mechanics can be said to emerge as a limiting case from the Rules of Quantum Mechanics applied to large enough masses": do you have any example of this?

I think the implication of emergence is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Classical mechanics doesn't "emerge" from QM in the same sense .
 
MiKiDe said:
I'm looking for more specific example.
What about temperature and pressure?
 
MiKiDe said:
My question :
Do you have any example of emergence that may be interesting to study?

"Interesting" is subjective, but a few examples are:

glass transition
biological signalling networks
left-handed/negative refractive index materials
large-scale coherent structures in turbulent flow
 

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