Via Negativa

Biological Parallel

Apoptosis—programmed cell death—is how organisms maintain health by removal, not addition. Webbing between embryonic fingers dissolves to create digits. Tadpole tails are resorbed during metamorphosis. Neural pruning eliminates unused synapses. These subtractive processes are often more critical than growth: the sculptor's insight that form emerges from removing excess. Taleb's via negativa applies this wisdom: improvement through elimination of harm often outperforms addition of benefit.