# big picture (abstraction)

*Ordinarily means:* The overall view or main idea of something.

A model that includes only the parts that are common across many things, so the differences between them are not in the model.

- Computed level: L15 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: levels and abstraction  ·  Arena: emergence_lexicon

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [model](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-model.representation), [general](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-general.broad), [difference](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-difference.relation), [part](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-part.relation), [pattern](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-pattern.regularity)

**Through:** emergence.novel_properties

**Novel properties:**
- abstraction.process

## Examples
- The Standard Model of particle physics describes all known matter and forces except gravity, using just 17 fundamental particles. *(physics)*
- The U.S. Constitution outlines a structure of government that applies across all 50 states, despite their differing laws and populations. *(institutions)*
- Photosynthesis in plants converts sunlight into chemical energy, a process common to nearly all ecosystems on Earth. *(biology)*

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-big-picture.abstraction*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-big-picture.abstraction.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*