Coherent Emergentism logo (black text)

Questions and answers

This page brings together the key questions and answers about coherent emergentism – its principles, concepts, and aims. If you want to understand what the theory claims and why, start here.

Coherent Emergentism – Frequently Asked Questions

Coherent Emergentism is a comprehensive theory of reality which holds that only internally consistent – or coherent – structures can persist and evolve. All that exists – matter, life, consciousness, society – is based on the continuous formation and maintenance of such structures.

Coherent Emergentism responds to the classic question “Why is there something rather than nothing?” by stating that existence is only possible in a coherent form. Non-being cannot generate anything stable or developing – it is not a real alternative. Only wholes that are internally coherent and capable of sustaining themselves can exist. Reality exists because it forms a coherent and evolving totality. Reality must contain within itself the reason for its existence, and the only possible such reason is coherence.

Coherent Emergentism sees both the origin of reality and emergence as results of the same deeper mechanism. Reality does not arise by chance, and emergence is not merely a phenomenon – both stem from the difference between potential and operative, self-sustaining coherence. This difference generates existence from empty possibility and makes it possible for a whole to be more than the sum of its parts. According to CE, the entity of being and the mode of being are inseparable; together they give rise to an emergent surplus that creates something fundamentally new.

Coherent Emergentism supports materialism, but redefines it in a non-reductionist way. It sees reality as material, but denies that it can be fully explained by the behavior of the smallest components alone. According to CE, only coherent, emergent structures – that is, wholes that persist and evolve due to their internal consistency – can explain the true structure and development of the world. In this way, CE integrates a material foundation with system-level emergence into a comprehensive account of reality.

Yes. Coherent Emergentism aims to be the strongest and most comprehensive metaphysical theory possible – one that explains both the existence of reality and its development. It begins with a single principle – coherence – and demonstrates how everything that exists can emerge from this principle without external assumptions or complex additions. In this sense, it offers a logically constructed and well-founded explanation of why there is a reality that evolves and gives rise to everything we know.

Yes. Coherent Emergentism seeks to explain reality with as few assumptions as possible. One of its key strengths is that it assumes less than other theories, yet – precisely for that reason – explains more. It does not require an external cause, deity, substance, or mathematical structure as a starting point. It describes reality as a self-arising, evolving process of coherence.

Coherent Emergentism aims to be a philosophical theory of everything – a foundational framework that unifies various scientific disciplines and explains the basic conditions of reality. It also functions as a meta-theory that examines what kinds of theories are possible in the first place. At the same time, it acknowledges that a final, all-encompassing theory of everything is not possible, because reality is continuously evolving and giving rise to new emergent wholes.

Emergence means that wholes can generate new properties that cannot be reduced to the behavior of their individual parts. According to Coherent Emergentism, the same unit can function differently in different wholes and at different times – its behavior is not fixed, but depends on the coherence of its surrounding context. This addresses the classical problem of emergence: how a unit can belong to two distinct, simultaneously active systems without contradiction. CE resolves this by showing that such simultaneity is not necessary—because coherence and behavior vary across time and context, the unit’s role naturally shifts with the systems it is part of.

In principle, yes – if a phenomenon were discovered that is permanently incoherent and yet exists, the theory could be challenged. In practice, however, this is extremely difficult, because even the reasoning used for falsification must itself be coherent. That is, one cannot use incoherent logic to disprove a coherence-based theory.

The validity of Coherent Emergentism could, in a certain sense, be shown to be possible if it were observed that two identical initial conditions lead to different emergent outcomes due to forming different coherent wholes. This would support the theory’s core thesis: development depends not only on components but on the wholes into which they are integrated. Such a finding would highlight the role of coherence in emergence and strengthen the theory’s foundational idea. The theory could also be explored through models of coherence mechanisms, if such mechanisms can be articulated at the level of observable phenomena. It is possible – and even likely – that these mechanisms are not universal natural laws but vary by context and scale.

Coherent Emergentism does not place itself above science, nor does it claim to be true if science shows otherwise. On the contrary, it respects the scientific method and seeks to remain compatible with it. It provides a philosophical foundation that can also be tested, applied, and further developed scientifically.

Emergence arises when coherent structures combine to form a new, more stable whole that has new properties and effects. Such a whole can sustain itself and influence lower levels of organization, producing downward causation. This process enables complexity and new phenomena to develop gradually over time.

No. The theory has been applied in preliminary ways to fields such as gravity, quantum physics, dark matter, and dark energy, but these are examples of application – not definitive truths. The mechanism of coherence has been tentatively extended into physical theory, but the framework leaves room for future scientific refinement and discovery.

No. Coherent Emergentism is not a dogma, but an open and evolving framework of thought. It does not provide a static worldview but builds a foundation for ongoing inquiry, dialogue, and critical reflection.

Coherent Emergentism can also function as a philosophy of life. It encourages individuals to live in ways that support both internal and external coherence – balance, connection, and continuous development. On the societal level, CE emphasizes the interaction between bottom-up and top-down structures. The individual matters as part of a greater whole, but the whole also arises from individuals. Earth itself is seen as part of a network of coherent systems, whose balance and habitability depend on our ability to form coherent relationships with nature and each other.

The theory was born from a need to find the simplest and most comprehensive possible explanation of reality without unnecessary assumptions. It draws together insights from philosophy, science, and experience through the principles of coherence and emergence.

Coherent Emergentism is a theory developed by Max Tallberg. It originated as part of the philosophical work of the Global Visions association and later evolved into an independent framework, supported by the use of ChatGPT in the thinking and writing process. All core themes and new ideas, however, are Tallberg’s own.

You can download a free e-book from this site, watch videos on the topic, and follow content on the website and social media channels. There are both concise introductions and in-depth explorations available.

The goal of the theory is to build a unified philosophical framework that integrates science, ethics, thought, and human experience. In the long term, it aims to foster new understanding and generate constructive dialogue across different fields of knowledge.