On the other hand: For quark systems, the total mass seems completely unrelated to the mass of the constituents. A pion is 2 quarks, 139 MeV. A proton has three, same type of quarks. Mass 938 MeV. The mass is emergent, from the interactions of the quarks and gluons. It's not predictable easily from the constituents.
Nevertheless, we can put QCD on the lattice and brute force it.
It is not clear to me if this is fundamental. I.e. if there are systems where you can't predict the behavior short of a full simulation. I suspect that there is a fundamental statement about nature here, similar to computability arguments. But I also think there are still a lot of techniques to develop to get closer.
Emergence in some esotericly romantic specialized science means "the symbol derived." In existential Reality without confusing theoretical limits emergence is any new potential created by a system, whether planned that way or a surprise to you.
Granted, surprises are also "emergent."
> The mass is emergent, from the interactions of the quarks and gluons
I argue the mass emerges as a standing wave against the mass relationship with all other bound potential. A hyperdimensional shape [knot] causes constructive/destructive interference to whatever potential is bound (here miniscule yet accumulative.)
The spin characteristic of this hyperdimensional knot of essentially light. Will be such that it will have a discrete mass (as full spins are at the speed of light, half spins are dimensional vectors causing fundamental force interference.) this relationship between the speed of light and half spin vectors may account for mass as the particle comes to rest. So a light speed particle is slowed down to mass rest by spin disposition (which was formed in the particle collider of infinite space and time.)
A small bias in a standing wave has pseudo-deterministic influence in everything it interferes with.
All of existential reality emerges by constructive and destructive interference of otherwise uncommitted particles.
As soon as some perfection is found, it crumbles and reconstitutes in the minds of those who express and those who perceive.
Seeing "potential" as the underlying and the "things" (which we value) as meta symbolic liberates my definition of a dozen contingencies.
There is a great mystery, yet this is a very useful definition.
Emergent properties are those potential created by a system of which such potential does not exist in any part otherwise.
A product emerges from an assembly line.
All that other stuff you said must be scrapped off one meaning, and further distilled toward whichever mystery you actually want to solve.
... which may be consciousness or meaning or edge cognitive technology.
