Michael Crichton highlighted the limitations of traditional scientific methods when studying complex systems. Scientists observed that rather than deriving insights from individual parts, the fascinating behaviors of these systems emerged from the interactions and relationships among their components. This realization challenged the reductionist approach, which involves dissecting systems to understand their functioning, as it proved ineffective for comprehending the intricate dynamics of complex systems.

Through their research, scientists began recognizing that common behaviors in complex systems could not be fully understood by isolating their individual elements. Instead, they focused on how these components spontaneously interacted, leading to unique and often unpredictable behaviors. This shift in perspective emphasizes the importance of understanding the collective behavior of systems rather than just the sum of their parts, which has significant implications for fields such as ecology, biology, and human biology.