Nested dynamics

Nested dynamics refers to the property of complex systems in which faster, smaller-scale processes are enclosed within slower, larger-scale processes, creating a hierarchical but non-deterministic architecture. Unlike true hierarchies where upper levels command lower levels, nested dynamics permits bottom-up influence: the fast scale innovates, the slow scale selects, and the system's evolution is a dialogue between them. The concept is central to understanding how emergence operates in systems from ecosystems to neural networks to economies.

See also Cross-scale interactions, Panarchy, Emergent Agency, Self-Organization.