The idea that the world can be understood on the basis of patterns and underlying principles is one of the most important insights of man and perhaps his or her most successful survival strategy.
The search for patterns and principles started at least 40.000 years ago with scratching dashes of patterns on mammoth bones and led to the sciences of today.
What routes have human knowledge passed through to grow from this modest start through many detours and fox ways to modern insights about nature and culture?
In this project, I'll try to learn and understand how the notion of patterns and principles has developed since the stone age in different places in the world.
HOW DID WHAT WE NOW KNOW COME INTO BEING AND HOW DID IT GROW, will be the central question of this project.
This project is about the human search for patterns and principles in the surrounding world.
Where can this search be traced for the first time, and how has human knowledge evolved in different regions and cultures?
We have already dealt with many topics related to the question of what human knowledge is and how we know what we think we know.
Now I am going to try to provide a long-term historical overview.
In all times and in all cultures, people have been looking for patterns in the world around them and have found them.
Knowledge of sun, moon, and planet movements, knowledge of language and music, knowledge of animal behavior, knowledge of growing plants,
all this knowledge does not consist of a simple summary of facts but of regularities with which separate facts are brought together. This is what we understand by systematic or pattern-based knowledge.
Not all knowledge is pattern-based. For example, knowledge of the names of someone's family members does not yet form a pattern.
However, if there is some order or regularity underlying the names of family members, such as the inheritance of certain names, then knowledge of that regularity is a form of pattern-based, systematic knowledge.
Pattern recognition and interpretation are one of the most essential features of homo sapiens. Man searches, recognizes and interprets patterns, both in nature and in culture.
In this project we assume that man has always been a pattern-seeking and interpreting being.
Pattern recognition does occur in animals and even in plants, but the way people deal with patterns differs radically from how other living things do this.
This brings us to the question of what exactly is a pattern. Intuitively speaking, a pattern is a perceived regularity that contains an element of repetition that is not necessarily immutable but may be subject to exceptions and variation.
There are more precise definitions of pattern, but most of them deal with quantitative patterns, like in physics, while this project also deals with qualitative patterns,
such as social, historical, cultural and narrative patterns, which are usually not numerical in nature.
So much about this new project for today.
Thank you for your attention again.....and I assume you are familiar with the pattern this class follows: Tuesday and Thursday.........^_^
The Discussion
[13:21] CB Axel: :)
[13:21] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): OOOO YES!Q
[13:22] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): sounds interesting
[13:22] herman Bergson: So...it is about the historical development of knowledge
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so patterns in all forms basically
[13:22] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nice project
[13:22] herman Bergson: yes...not just physics with its laws of nature
[13:22] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): this can be good
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): social patterns, art, mathematics, physics, program code
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): all of these have indeed patterns
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its very broad
[13:23] herman Bergson: right Bejiita!!!!
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and yes we are pattern searching beings
[13:23] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): can chaos have a pattern?
[13:23] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well....
[13:24] herman Bergson: there only can be chaos when there is a pattern to show that it is chaos, Beertje
[13:24] CB Axel: We find patterns where there aren't any.
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): chaos theory is quite exciting
[13:24] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ha
[13:24] CB Axel: Like seeing the face of a man on ht moon.
[13:24] herman Bergson: Oh yes we do CB
[13:24] CB Axel: Or canals on Mars
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaa
[13:24] herman Bergson: There was that face on Mars. CB
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): o cloud men and cloug dogs
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): floating in the sky
[13:24] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or
[13:24] CB Axel: Yeah, Bejiita
[13:25] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): or this rug
[13:25] CB Axel: Or constellations in the stars
[13:25] herman Bergson: But when they got pictures form a different angle is showed to be just a few hills
[13:25] theo Velde is online.
[13:25] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): or the artwork i do on my Wacom tablet at moment for an idea i got, before today i got a flashback to some old a bit surreal childhood story
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its about some guy called PP following an arrow
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): arrow in swedish = Pil
[13:26] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hence the Ps
[13:26] herman Bergson: our daily routine follows a pattern :-)
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but have just started and don't remember much
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaa yes
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats also true
[13:27] herman Bergson: Patterns are everywhere
[13:27] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): breakfast, go to work, swear over the mess (and lack of pattern) cause we are overwhelmed at moment (which however is good i guess for the company)
[13:27] herman Bergson: or ...I'd say...we see patterns everywhere
[13:28] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): yes
[13:28] herman Bergson: Indeed Bejiita ^_^
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): get home, eat, do evening stuff, 3d print crazy figures, eat a night snack while on SL, sleep
[13:28] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wash rinse repeat
[13:28] herman Bergson: lol...Bejiita :-)
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:29] herman Bergson: But you are right
[13:29] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and develop some new fun game containing all kind of patterns, both in art and in code
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): so sure patterns are in all that i and also we all do
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): thats true
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): however we rarely think of this
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): it just is like that
[13:30] oola Neruda: and the impetus that creates the pattern
[13:30] herman Bergson: We'll also see some observations of patterns that eventually showed to be a mistake or error
[13:30] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): aaaah
[13:31] herman Bergson: Not every pattern we think we discover is really a regularity....
[13:31] herman Bergson: or we make up some belief in a pattern
[13:32] herman Bergson: Conspiracy thinkers these days see all kinds of non existent patterns
[13:32] herman Bergson: for instance
[13:32] CB Axel nods
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): like that earth is flat and that they need to destroy all 5 g masts because they create strange field patterns causing cancer
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): (shakes head)
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): those dudes we also have yes
[13:33] herman Bergson: just name it, Bejiita and there is someone who believes in it
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm
[13:33] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess
[13:34] herman Bergson grins
[13:34] herman Bergson: even in SL it happens....
[13:34] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): can imagine
[13:34] herman Bergson: you log in at certain times.....then you change the login moments.....and others see a pattern in it.....he is meeting someone else!!!!!!!
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:35] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:35] herman Bergson grins
[13:35] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahahaha
[13:36] herman Bergson: Jealous people are masters of pattern see-ers , I think
[13:37] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): grins
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hmm for sure
[13:37] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i guess
[13:37] herman Bergson: So...patterns everywhere ^_^
[13:37] herman Bergson: Guess we gonna have fun with this project
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): will go way back in time first?
[13:38] herman Bergson: yes....it wil be an historical overview Gemma
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:38] CB Axel: The first pattern we noticed was probably the sun rising and setting. :)
[13:38] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): its gonna be fun for sure
[13:38] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hmmm
[13:38] herman Bergson: You might be right CB
[13:38] CB Axel: Or our own breathing
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ah seems probable
[13:39] herman Bergson: Or maybe it was..opening and closing your eyes?
[13:39] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): and the season changes
[13:39] CB Axel: tides
[13:39] CB Axel: the cycle of the moon
[13:39] oola Neruda: language...
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): food times
[13:39] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): always first
[13:39] herman Bergson: As you see...patterns everywhere....from the very begining of homo sapiens
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): one thing that have gotten my kind recently is how have all of these languages there are started and evolved
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): i mean there are sooooo many
[13:40] herman Bergson: Ah yes..Gemma..the midnight snack in Sweden :-)
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): wayyyyy different from each other
[13:40] herman Bergson: definte pattern :-))
[13:40] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): hahaha yes that snack is important
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): if anyone spoke Dutch it would be sooo easy Bejiita:))
[13:41] herman Bergson: In what sense Beertje?
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): well i want to know THAT plus loads of others
[13:41] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): Bejiita mentioned the differences of languages
[13:41] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): dutch i can snap up a word or 2
[13:41] herman Bergson: I see
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): but how did these languages all start
[13:42] oola Neruda: exactly
[13:42] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): arabic, dutch, Finnish, swedish, japanese ect
[13:42] herman Bergson: Grammer is the pattern of language....
[13:42] herman Bergson: Might lead us to Chomsky and his research on these patterns
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ohoh
[13:43] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): oki
[13:43] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): thinks he is very fragmented
[13:44] herman Bergson: I don't know the details Gemma
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:44] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:44] herman Bergson: but his transformational grammar wasn't a success eventually, as far as I know
[13:44] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): none familiar to me
[13:46] herman Bergson: Well...it was a sunny day in RL ...20C for the first time....and we have a bright intellectual future ahead with this project :-)
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): nice
[13:46] oola Neruda: in learning language, the response you get is a pattern that helps to set things... like the child crying when he is hungry .... becomes more sophisticated over time
[13:46] herman Bergson: So...thank you all...enjoy the (coming) spring ....
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): was nice here too
[13:46] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ♥ Thank Youuuuuuuuuu!! ♥
[13:46] CB Axel: Thank you, Herman.
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): YAY! (yay!)
[13:47] herman Bergson: Class dismissed .....
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): thank you Herman
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): good start
[13:47] .: Beertje :. (beertje.beaumont): yay
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ok
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): hope ot make it Thursday
[13:47] bergfrau Apfelbaum: Thank you Herman and class:-))
[13:47] CB Axel: See you all Thursday. :)
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate) GIGGLES!!
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): ...LOL...
[13:47] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): fingers crossed for tomorrow
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): now, lets find a winning pattern at the
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): * PLUPP *
[13:47] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): table
[13:48] herman Bergson: what is tomorrow Gemma?
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): bye
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): ㋡
[13:48] Gemma (gemma.cleanslate): Wednesday
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): cu Gemma
[13:48] Particle Physicist Bejiita (bejiita.imako): bye
[13:48] bergfrau Apfelbaum: yay
[13:48] herman Bergson: what on Wednesday?
