emergent evolution

American  

noun

1. the origin of entirely new properties at certain critical stages or levels in the course of evolution, as multicellular organisms, sexual reproduction, or nervous systems.

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emergent evolution British  

noun

1. philosophy the doctrine that, in the course of evolution, some entirely new properties, such as life and consciousness, appear at certain critical points, usually because of an unpredictable rearrangement of the already existing entities

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Etymology

Origin of emergent evolution

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

He believed that the churches must be subject to the state, led the way to the "higher criticism" of the Bible and even developed a theory of emergent evolution.

From Time Magazine Archive

It is also vital in comprehending the relativity-universe prescribed by the theory of emergent evolution.

From Time Magazine Archive

The theory of emergent evolution holds that space, time, matter, life are not independent of each other but form an organic whole.

From Time Magazine Archive