A stable state is a mode of operation where more or less you have the same dynamics happening over time. This is why it's so confusing for us human beings, isn't it? Because we observe that state. It's nice and stable. We can even write equations to describe that state. And then we think it's going to go out like that forever and ever. The issue here isn't that it screws around what our sort of linear cause and effect view of the world. But when you get those non-linear changes, as you said, all of a sudden it really screws with our expectations.
A fascinating property of a system's behaviour is its ability to change, and change quickly. For example, how does an economy go from boom to bust so suddenly and unpredictably? That is to say, how does it 'tip' from one behaviour to another? What are these tipping points, and are they really as unpredictable as they seem?
In today's episode, we speak to Tyler Marghetis, Assistant Professor of Cognitive and Information Sciences at the University of California Merced. He pulls apart the underlying reasons why the behaviour of a complex system can radically change. He also poses the question, can you tell when a system is about to tip?
Connect:
This show is produced in collaboration with Wavelength Creative. Visit wavelengthcreative.com for more information.