A complex system is an interconnected set of components that, when taken together, demonstrate emergent behaviour that is not easily predicted or explained by the individual components or sub-systems. This behaviour is often unpredictable and highly adaptive, as interactions between parts of the system generate feedback loops, positive and negative, that continually shape the behaviour of the entire system. By studying this behaviour in a complex system, we can better understand its fundamentals and become better informed about our own complex environment.

See also: feedback loop, game theory, participatory knowing, possibility space, simulated thinking