Hofstadter's Law

Biological Parallel

Wound healing seems simple—close the gap—but involves recursive cascading: inflammation triggers cell migration, which triggers matrix deposition, which triggers remodeling, each phase unlocking hidden complexity. Hofstadter's Law captures this: tasks take longer than expected even when you account for this law, because complexity is fractal. Each layer reveals new layers. Biological systems don't estimate completion time—they respond to what emerges.