Ordered complexity is an observation of [[Complex Adaptive Systems]]. Despite [[complexity]] measuring the randomness of a system, organization arises from these seemingly random interactions. This concept is illustrated in the study of [[Biogenesis|abiogenesis]]. The universe is observationally stochastic at all levels of measurement. Possibilities are limited by the constraints imposed by the system. Organization is the perception of patterns inside random events. Agents within the system respond to these patterns, thus increasing the complexity. [Assembly theory](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assembly_theory) is one hypothesis that attempts to reconcile the perception of organization against the improbability of its occurrence. This is a description of the physics of time, using the concept of "memory" as a function of complexity. Elementary particles do not require memory as they can be generated spontaneously provided sufficient energy and resources, but more complex arrangements of these particles, such as DNA, require a period or process to record successful forms of organization. This process is time, suggesting a [misalignment](https://aeon.co/essays/time-is-not-an-illusion-its-an-object-with-physical-size) [[Types of Time|between the 'time' of physics and the 'time' of evolution]]. Assembly theory describes how much memory must exist for a molecule or combination of molecules to come into being. In this formulation, time is a property of objects that emerge only through the process evolution. More complex objects result from combinations of earlier objects, thus looking backward in time always yields simpler combinations and systems. Assembly theory makes the interesting claim that [[Cognitive Bias|systematic bias]] is a necessary feature of complex systems, due to the breadth of possibility within the combinatorial space of the universe.[^1] >[!quote] Kempes et al >Our central claim is that the combinatorial space is so large, that some configurations simply cannot exist without systematic bias stored in a memory, what we call “selection” which will include natural selection, but also many other modes of selection, including ones we have not characterized previously. ## Principles - Combinatorial space: this term is highly technical, but it is essentially the parameters from which a set of possibilities arise. Hydrogen, for instance, will fuse into helium at a range of temperatures and pressures. This range defines the combinatorial space for combinations of hydrogen particles to form helium atoms. Other combinatorial spaces create more complex combinations. - "Local memory:" this is the causal chain that selects and copies certain combinations over others. This is what we see when we search for evidence. It is linked to the concept of it from bit. - Selection: the combinations that result within a combinatorial space, of all the possibilities. These types of molecules (objects, combinations) are observed in life and biogenesis. - Copy number: how many objects (combinations) are observed. - Assembly index: the minimum number of steps necessary to produce an object. Also known as complexity (computation). - Assembly theory is interested in *both* complexity and high copy number. Complex objects with low copies are not considered important. [^1]: Kempes, C., Walker, S. I., Lachmann, M., & Cronin, L. (2024). Assembly Theory and Its Relationship with Computational Complexity. arXiv Preprints. _arXiv preprint arXiv:2406.12176_.