Emergence as a subject of research, research methods, and engineering knowledge and practice

Abstract

The paper discusses several views on the definition of the term “emergence” in relation to systems. The paper then discusses several approaches to research which have different purposes in order to identify the relationship of the research approach and the issue of emergence. Through this discussion it is possible to identify the relationship between research methodologies, engineering development and the issue of emergence. In particular, it is shown that the problem of emergence contains the core of a pathway to the engineering of systems.