A model of reality in which systems are both dynamic (constantly changing) and complex (with interacting components producing emergent behavior). This is the reality of ecosystems, economies, organizations, and human relationships—systems where causes loop back on themselves, where small changes can have huge effects, where prediction is impossible but understanding is still possible. Dynamic-complex system reality is the default mode of existence; it's just that most people try to pretend they're living in something simpler. This reality is why best-laid plans often fail and why life is endlessly surprising.
Example: "He planned his career like a linear path—step A to step B to step C. Dynamic-complex system reality laughed. The economy shifted, his industry transformed, his interests evolved, and his personal life intervened. The path became a web, then a cloud, then a mystery. He finally accepted that he wasn't navigating a linear path but a dynamic-complex system, which required different skills—adaptability, patience, and a sense of humor."
by AbzuInExile February 16, 2026
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