The Evolutionary Basis of Rigidity: Locks in Cells, Minds, and Society
Marten Scheffer,Frances Westley +1 more
TLDR
It is shown that the tendency to lock into one of several alternative modes usually serves an apparent purpose and may help in finding ways to avoid traps in situations where flexible response and innovation are needed.Abstract:
Feedbacks leading to alternative stable modes of behavior occur on levels varying from the cell and the mind to societies. The tendency to lock into a certain pattern comes at the cost of the ability to adjust to new situations. The resulting rigidity limits the ability of persons, groups, and companies to respond to new problems, and some even suggest that it may have contributed to the collapse of ancient societies. In the face of these negative effects, it may seem surprising that lock-in situations are so ubiquitous. Here, we show that the tendency to lock into one of several alternative modes usually serves an apparent purpose. In cells, it filters out noise, and allows a well-defined and consistent behavior once a certain threshold is passed. Basically, the same holds for the attitudes and behavior of individuals and groups. This functionality is not surprising as it has evolved through selection for fitness. Understanding why rigidity makes sense may help in finding ways to avoid traps in situations where flexible response and innovation are needed.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
Social-ecological memory in urban gardens-Retaining the capacity for management of ecosystem services
TL;DR: In this article, the authors focus on social or collect-collective knowledge and associated practice to sustain and enhance ecosystem services on the ground, where many ecosystem services are in decline.
Journal ArticleDOI
Scale-Crossing Brokers and Network Governance of Urban Ecosystem Services : The Case of Stockholm
TL;DR: In this article, a central challenge for sustaining ecosystem services lies in addressing scale mismatches between ecological ecosystems and human well-being and the livability of cities, and the authors propose a solution to address this mismatch.
Journal ArticleDOI
Surmountable Chasms: Networks and Social Innovation for Resilient Systems
TL;DR: In this article, the authors explore the critical question of whether networks help facilitate innovations to bridge the seemingly insurmountable chasms of complex problems to create change across scales, thereby increasing resilience.
Journal ArticleDOI
Implications of agricultural transitions and urbanization for ecosystem services
Graeme S. Cumming,Andreas Buerkert,Ellen Hoffmann,Eva Schlecht,Stephan von Cramon-Taubadel,Teja Tscharntke +5 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the interacting and mutually reinforcing processes of technological change, population growth and urbanization contribute to over-exploitation of ecosystems through complex feedbacks that have important implications for sustainable resource use.
Journal ArticleDOI
Urban gardens, agriculture, and water management: Sources of resilience for long-term food security in cities
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors discuss lessons for food security from historic and prehistoric cities and discuss the importance of food security as a key resilience facet for people living in cities, and the Chicago school of urban soc...
References
More filters
Book
Diffusion of Innovations
TL;DR: A history of diffusion research can be found in this paper, where the authors present a glossary of developments in the field of Diffusion research and discuss the consequences of these developments.
Book
The Structure of Scientific Revolutions
TL;DR: The Structure of Scientific Revolutions as discussed by the authors is a seminal work in the history of science and philosophy of science, and it has been widely cited as a major source of inspiration for the present generation of scientists.
Journal ArticleDOI
Diffusion of innovations
TL;DR: Upon returning to the U.S., author Singhal’s Google search revealed the following: in January 2001, the impeachment trial against President Estrada was halted by senators who supported him and the government fell without a shot being fired.
Journal ArticleDOI
Resilience and Stability of Ecological Systems
TL;DR: The traditional view of natural systems, therefore, might well be less a meaningful reality than a perceptual convenience.
The structure of scientific revolutions
TL;DR: The structure of scientific revolutions (1962) / Thomas Samuel Kuhn (1922-1996) is a book about the history of science and its discontents.
Related Papers (5)
Panarchy: Understanding Transformations in Human and Natural Systems
Lance Gunderson,C. S. Holling +1 more