Hierarchy organizes components into nested levels of complexity from "summary" of Complexity by Mitchell M. Waldrop
At the heart of understanding complexity is the concept of hierarchy. Hierarchy is a way of organizing components into nested levels of complexity. In a hierarchical system, each level is composed of a collection of simpler components. These components, in turn, can be further broken down into even simpler parts, creating a nested structure of increasing complexity. This nested structure allows for the emergence of complex behaviors and patterns that are not present at the individual component level. The interactions between components at one level give rise to new properties and dynamics that are characteristic of the system as a whole. Hierarchies are ubiquitous in the natural world, from the organization of biological organisms to the structure of social systems. In biological systems, for example, cells are organized into tissues, which are then organized into organs, and so on, creating a hierarchical structure that underlies the functioning of the organism as a whole. In social systems, individuals are organized into families, which are organized into communit...
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