CAUSALITY
FOLLOWING THE FLOW
Causality is the relationship between cause and effect. Traditionally understood as a linear chain of cause and effect, is a far more intricate causal mesh in Das' philosophy.
The causal mesh describes the omnidirectional causal relationships that exist in complex, emergent systems, and how we can't solely blame a catalyst, something that causes a reaction between already existing causes, for the entire outcome of a causal reaction, which is a complex, omnidirectional chain of events that occurs between states of causal equilibrium.
The key insight here is that no cause exists in isolation. Every effect emerges from a web of interacting causes that rest at a causal equilibrium, a relative state of rest within a complex system, until catalyzed, making the traditional linear view of causality inadequate.
When assessing emergent phenomena, we must be mindful of strong emergence, which is true emergence where there are system level phenomena that cannot be reduced and explained by their components, and weak emergence, which is a false emergence where system level phenomena cannot be predicted by studying components in isolation, but their active interactions can be modeled and reduced.
A somewhat unique component of Das' philosophy is the acknowledgment of downward causality, which states that higher level systems can have impacts on their components, which rejects a reduced, simple machine understanding of reality and is the defining factor of strong emergence.
Specifically, Das' philosophy acknowledges how the creation of emergent systems involves downward causality creating circular causality, which when systems of cause and effect create a feedback loop.
When circular causality is occurring due to the interaction cycle of downward causality of an emergent system with the upward causality of the component interactions, that is called emergent reciprocity.
It is a true emergent system if the component interactions wouldn't exist without the downward causality of the emergent phenomena and vice versa.
DEFINITIONS
Causality - the relationship between cause and effect
Causal Mesh - an omnidirectional and reciprocal causal relationship between components and systems within greater complex systems
Causal Meshwork: the interconnected web of cause-and-effect relationships in which multiple factors interact to produce complex outcomes
Catalyst - something that causes a reaction within a system, but depends on the reactants to be what they are as well
Causal Reaction - the complex, omnidirectional chain of events that occurred between states of causal equilibrium
Causal Equilibrium - a relative state of rest within a complex system
Strong Emergence - when system level phenomena have downward causality and impact their components
Weak Emergence - when system level phenomena cannot be predicted with the isolated studied of components, but can be reduced by modeling interactions
Downward Causality - the idea that higher level systems can have impacts on their components. The defining factor of strong emergence
Circular Causality - a sequence of cause and effect that creates a feedback loop
Feedback Loop - a process that uses the output of a system as input again
Emergent Reciprocity - a specific type of circular causality where the upward causality of complex component interaction produces downward causality and successfully establishes a feedback loop
2.5 TYPES OF STRONG EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
Consumptive emergent systems are characterized by emergent reciprocity that doesn't achieve causal equilibrium as a closed system.
These systems exhibit downward causality, but their influence is unsustainable due to their dependence on transient or unstable conditions and expire once the state of key causal components changes too much.
Example: Tornadoes
SUSTAINABLE EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
Sustained emergent systems occur when component interactions produce phenomena that reinforce and stabilize the system, achieving a relative causal equilibrium and enabling it to persist and adapt over time.
These systems exhibit downward causality that supports continued upward causality, creating a self-sustaining cycle of interaction.
Examples: Organisms
FAILED EMERGENCE
CONSUMPTIVE EMERGENCE
FAILED EMERGENCE
Failed emergent systems occur when downward causality immediately suppresses or constrains component interactions, preventing the system from achieving circular causality.
When attempted downward causality fails, it can radically suppress component interaction, having wide ranging effects on the causal mesh of the system, limiting future interactivity.
Example: Authoritarianism