1min snip

Simplifying Complexity cover image

What makes us creative?

Simplifying Complexity

NOTE

The Adjacent Possible: System's Only Produce New Things Adjacent to Existing Things

The concept of the adjacent possible, coined by biologist Stuart Kauffman, suggests that within complex systems, evolution occurs incrementally by taking steps to adjacent possibilities. Similar to being in a space of valleys, hills, and mountains, species can only take steps to nearby locations rather than making giant leaps. This idea also underlies the groundbreaking insights of Darwin and Wallace, who were able to recognize and step towards new possibilities adjacent to the existing ideas in circulation.

00:00

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode