# independent (attribute)

a thing that is not a part of another thing and does not require another thing

- Computed level: L7 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: everyday  ·  Arena: common

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [part](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-part.relation), [required](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-required.obligation)

**Through:** When a thing is not a part of another thing and does not require another thing, it remain alone

**Novel properties:**
- no reliance on others
- self‑governance

## Examples
- The Svalbard Global Seed Vault operates without reliance on any nation's power grid, using permafrost for cooling. [engineering] *(engineering)*
- Neptune's orbit remained stable after Voyager 2's 1989 flyby, unaffected by the probe's departure. [astronomy] *(astronomy)*
- Bitcoin continued processing transactions after Satoshi Nakamoto vanished in 2011. [computing] *(computing)*

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