--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Reductionism in the physical sciences has…" description: "\"“Reductionism in the physical sciences has been challenged by the principle of emergence. The whole system acquires qualitatively new properties that c..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/michael-s-gazzaniga-37898_emergence_reductionism-in-the-physical-sciences-ha_2549325.jpg" --- # Reductionism in the physical sciences has been challenged… ![“Reductionism in the physical sciences has been challenged by the principle of emergence. The whole system acquires qualitatively new properties that cannot be predicted from the simple addition of those of its individual components. One might apply the aphorism that the new system is greater than…” quote by Michael S. Gazzaniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/michael-s-gazzaniga-37898_emergence_reductionism-in-the-physical-sciences-ha_2549325.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/michael-s-gazzaniga-37898_emergence_reductionism-in-the-physical-sciences-ha_2549325.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/175/michael-s-gazzaniga-37898_emergence_reductionism-in-the-physical-sciences-ha_2549325.jpg) > ““Reductionism in the physical sciences has been challenged by the principle of emergence. The whole system acquires qualitatively new properties that cannot be predicted from the simple addition of those of its individual components. One might apply the aphorism that the new system is greater than the sum of its parts. There is a phase shift, a change in the organizational structure, going from one scale to the next.”” [Michael S. Gazzaniga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-gazzaniga/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Complex systems exhibit new properties not predictable from their parts alone. **In simple terms:** Whole > sum of parts. Key Takeaway Embrace complexity. Themes emergence complexity systems theory Mood analytical curious Type scientific inspirational When to use this quote - research - technology development - policy planning - team collaboration Key Concepts holism phase transition Questions to Reflect On - How can we manage unpredictable emergent outcomes? - What role does reductionism still play? A Different Perspective Emergent behavior can be chaotic and hard to control. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Emergence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/emergence/) [Organizational structure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/organizational-structure/) [Reductionism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reductionism/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) ## Related quotes > [“Organizational development is part of the digital strategy, and digital strategy equals to business strategy with digital new normal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pearl-zhu/organizational-development-is-part-of-the-digital-strategy-and/) [Pearl Zhu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pearl-zhu/) > [I'd say that my profession ends where architectural thinking ends - architectural thinking in terms of thinking about programs and organizational structure. 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