Equifinality

A longstanding and important concept in biology emphasizing that open systems have the capability of attaining the same end state of equilibrium despite differences in initial conditions and the developmental routes taken.  Put it another way, there are ‘different means to the same end state’, which captures the many-to-one transformations between all possible initial states and a single final state that is the defining characteristic of non-linear dynamical systems.  Linear systems, in contrast, have only one-to-one transformations.  In movement terms, motor equivalence has similar connotations. 

See Biomechanical degrees of freedom, Canalization, Epigenetic landscape, Explanation, Kinematics, Linear dynamical systems, Motor equivalence, Non-linear dynamical systems, Non-uniequivality principle, Open system