# Adjacent Possible The concept of the "adjacent possible" refers to the idea that innovation and evolution occur by building on existing knowledge, creating new possibilities that were previously inaccessible. Originating in biology and widely applied in technology and culture, the adjacent possible suggests that each new development or idea opens up additional pathways for further change. In other words, you can think of it as an expanding space of what is possible, where each step creates new boundaries and opportunities. Here’s how it works: - **Incremental Advancement**: Innovations generally don't leap to entirely new spaces but rather build on existing knowledge or technology. This incremental nature creates a landscape where each new addition leads to several new possibilities. - **Network Effects**: The adjacent possible often occurs in networked environments. For instance, in biological evolution, new traits or mutations can create new niches for organisms. In technology, the development of a particular technology might lead to other inventions or applications. - **Interconnectedness**: Since each new addition affects the adjacent possible, areas of exploration are often interconnected. This leads to a dynamic system where innovations in one field might create opportunities in another. - **Examples**: - In biology, consider how the evolution of fins in fish opened up the possibility for later development of limbs in tetrapods, which ultimately led to terrestrial animals. - In technology, the development of the internet created adjacent possibilities for web-based applications, e-commerce, and social media, leading to a cascade of innovations that would not have been conceivable before. Overall, the adjacent possible is a useful concept for understanding how innovation occurs through gradual changes, driven by existing frameworks that evolve over time. --- Date: 20240427 Links to: Tags: References: * Where Good Ideas Come From, S Johnson * Stuart Kauffman