Metastability describes system's tendency towards instability from "summary" of Complexity by Mitchell M. Waldrop
Metastability is a concept that lies at the heart of complex systems. It describes a system's inherent tendency to be on the edge of instability - a state where any small disturbance can push it in one direction or another. Think of a ball perched on top of a hill, perfectly balanced. It could roll down the slope at any moment, depending on which way the wind blows. In the context of complex systems, metastability is what allows for sudden phase transitions - abrupt shifts from one state to another. These transitions are not predictable in the traditional sense because they are contingent on the system's current state. It's like trying to predict which way the ball will roll based on the wind's direction - there are too many variables at play to make a precise calculation. Metastability is what gives comp...
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