# Complex Adaptive Systems **Domain:** Complexity Science / Emergence / Evolution **Doc Type:** Concept Node **Maturity:** Developing **Related:** [[Santa Fe Institute]], [[Emergence]], [[Superorganism]], [[Distributed Intelligence]] --- ## Definition A **complex adaptive system** contains interacting agents or components that learn, adapt or evolve while collectively producing system-level patterns not specified by any single part. ## Corpus Context The concept links biological evolution, institutions and machine networks without declaring them identical. It is especially important to [[Superintelligence Cradle Theory]]: interoperable parts may become a new cognitive ecology before anyone deliberately designs a unified intelligence. ## Backlinks [[Santa Fe Institute]] · [[Emergence]] ## Relationships - **Quotation provenance and collection route:** [[collections/Simple Reminders|Simple Reminders]] links the direct publications named in the source-backed Reminder objects below to this concept; the quoted claims remain attributed to their speakers. ## Simple Reminders, Quotations, and Thoughts > “What is the master principle governing the growth and evolution of complex systems?” > **— John C. Mather**, *2018 Edge Annual Question, question* [[reminders/Evolution/What Governs the Evolution of Complex Systems by John C. Mather|What Governs the Evolution of Complex Systems by John C. Mather]]