Virtual stability: A general complex systems principle?

This paper presents the concept of virtual stability, suggested as a fundamental characteristic of complex adaptive systems. A complex adaptive system is in a virtually stable state if, through self-monitoring and adaptive control, it maintains itself in a configuration or state that would otherwise be unstable. The energy expenditure required in order to sustain this condition gains the advantage of greater behavioral flexibility in the face of random environmental contingencies. A toy population model illustrating virtual stability is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]