75. The Extension Of Evolvability

It can be seen that the emergence of new systems extends the evolvability of complexity as a whole, transcending the evolvability limits of the prior systems.[1] That is, in the history of the cosmos, the simplest systems, subatomic physical systems, evolved only for 10-43 seconds and then stabilised to the organisation that is still current. Complexity then increased, under the gravitational collapse of stars and their explosions as supernovæ, with the supervenience of chemical systems on subatomic systems, as instantiated by the periodic table of elements. Complexity then increased on Earth, at least, with the embedding of one chemical system (nucleic acids) embedded within another (proteins) that began the evolution of biological systems, systems of potential embedded within systems of expression. Complexity increased again with the interactions between biological potentials in populations of cells that led to the evolution of developmental potential expressed as developing multicellular organisms. Complexity then increased with a second embedding, this time systems of behavioural potential (neurological systems) embedded in some multicellular organisms (all animals except sponges). Complexity then increased with a interactions between behavioural potentials in populations of organisms that led to the evolution of semiotic potential expressed as developing social systems. 

Footnote:

[1] The evolution of systems only occurs within certain ranges of states. Physical differentiation is limited to the high energy states soon after the Big Bang. Chemical element differentiation is limited to the high energy states under the gravitational collapse of stars. Biological differentiation is limited to temperatures in the range of 0°–110°C.

ChatGPT revised:

The emergence of new systems extends the evolvability of complexity as a whole, transcending the evolvability limits of preceding systems.[1] In the history of the cosmos, the simplest systems — subatomic physical systems — evolved only within the first 10⁻⁴³ seconds after the Big Bang, before stabilising into the organisational forms that remain current. Complexity increased thereafter through the gravitational collapse of stars and their explosive deaths as supernovæ, giving rise to the supervenience of chemical systems on subatomic systems, as instantiated by the periodic table of elements.

On Earth, complexity increased again with the embedding of one chemical system (nucleic acids) within another (proteins), initiating the evolution of biological systems — systems of potential embedded within systems of expression. This was followed by interactions among biological potentials in populations of cells, which led to the emergence of developmental potential and the evolution of multicellular organisms. Developmental potential thus became a new level of potential supervenient on interactions between biological systems.

Complexity increased yet again with a second embedding: behavioural potential (neurological systems) within some multicellular organisms — all animals except sponges. As with previous transitions, interactions between behavioural potentials in populations of organisms accelerated evolutionary change. This, in turn, led to the emergence of semiotic potential, expressed in developing social systems.

Each of these transitions reflects the emergence of a new system of potential embedded in — and transcending — the prior system of expression, expanding the range of what could evolve.

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Footnote:

[1] The evolution of systems only occurs within certain ranges of states. Physical differentiation was limited to the extremely high-energy conditions shortly after the Big Bang. Chemical differentiation is limited to the high-energy states found in the gravitational collapse of stars. Biological differentiation is constrained to temperatures in the range 0°–110°C.