Emergent
Example: The emergent properties of consciousness challenge reductionist theories.
Definition
"Emergent" in philosophy describes properties or phenomena that arise from complex systems and cannot be directly predicted from the system’s individual parts. These emergent qualities represent new levels of organization and behavior that are not evident in the components alone.
Etymology
The word "emergent" comes from the Latin verb 'emergere,' meaning 'to rise out or up.' It entered English in the 17th century, initially used in scientific and philosophical contexts to describe things that come into view or existence unexpectedly or newly. Did you know? The concept of emergence has fascinated thinkers because it highlights how complexity can produce surprising and novel outcomes.
Learn to use this word actively
"Emergent" appears in the Vocaplus list "English - Philosophy - (C2) - set 1", containing 120 commonly used words.
Would you like to not only understand these words, but also remember them and use them actively? Create a free account and select English as the language you want to learn.
Create a free account
