Why is breaking a complex system down into parts often unhelpful for understanding the system?

Breaking a complex system down into parts can be unhelpful for understanding the system primarily because emergent properties, which are characteristics that arise from the interactions and relationships between the components, become lost when analyzing the components in isolation. In many complex systems, the behavior and functionality cannot be understood solely by examining individual parts, as these parts interact in ways that produce unique behaviors and outcomes not present when viewed separately.

Emergent properties often include aspects like resilience, adaptability, or specific functionalities that are a result of the synergistic interactions within the system. When focusing only on individual components, there’s a risk of oversimplifying the system and missing out on these critical characteristics that define how the system functions as a whole. This holistic understanding is essential in systems engineering, where the goal is to comprehend how different elements work together to achieve the overall objectives of the system.