Emergence and Contingency in Modern Scientific Theories

Abstract

Starting from the second half of the twentieth century, there has been a rising interest, in modern scientific theories, about the notion of emergence. Its compatibility and explanatory power with theories that involve the study of complexity and nonlinear systems are expressed in many recent works in the field of philosophy of science. These works showcase an ongoing debate about emergence and reductionism, and despite the divergences of the definitions and the approaches regarding emergence, it is very often connected with the notions of non-predictability, complexity and contingency. Focusing on the later one, we will argue about the connection of emergence and contingency by focusing on three modern scientific theories that make strong cases for emergence. Starting with Chaos Theory in Mathematics, we have strong cases of the emergence of physical properties, as a result of non-infinite precision in calculating a system’s initial conditions. In Evolutionary Biology, we have the theory of Punctuated Equilibrium and Stephen Gould’s approach to the occurrence of species extinctions, and in History of Science, Cushing’s theory for the role of Historical Contingency in theory selection in science, that showcase the connection between contingency and emergence. Based on this analysis, we propose the enrichment of the discussion concerning the Nature of Science (NoS) with the aspects of emergence and contingency embodied in modern scientific theories, highlighting their contribution to an educational environment that values the NoS.