Detection and emergence

TL;DR

This paper unifies two conceptions of emergence through the concept of detection, clarifying the role of the observer and providing a clearer definition of emergence based on complexity and detection.

Contribution

It reconciles different views of emergence by linking them to detection, offering a unified framework that emphasizes the observer's role.

Findings

Unified definition of emergence based on detection and complexity

Reconciliation of two conceptions of emergence as detection phenomena

Clarification of the observer's role in emergence

Abstract

Two different conceptions of emergence are reconciled as two instances of the phenomenon of detection. In the process of comparing these two conceptions, we find that the notions of complexity and detection allow us to form a unified definition of emergence that clearly delineates the role of the observer.