For a system with an environment varying at random, the orientation around relatively simple rules – and, in social communication, acceptable rules – leads to the construction of increasingly complex structures. Simplicity and chance are relatively modest preconditions for the construction of complexity. For this reason these preconditions of existence do not contain any guarantee whatever that the system will maintain itself, let alone be capable of self-regulating. Problems of maintenance and of continual adaptation loom very large as follow-up problems from technical developments, and thus demand that special sorts of techniques be used on the basis of the level of complexity already achieved.

XREF: Connects to complexity theory, emergence, and Luhmann's social systems theory — resonates with the idea that emergent complexity requires additional maintenance mechanisms.

Niklas Luhmann, Trust and Power, loc. 727