Tool's Lesson on Fibonacci: Think 'Laterally'

Whether you are an investment trader, a music fan, a mathematician, a curious observer wishing to learn more about human nature, or any combination thereof, you will appreciate this lesson on the Fibonacci Sequence (more on this after the YouTube link):

The video, created by a college student to help explain the Fibonacci sequence, features images of space from the Hubble Telescope and music from the cerebral and progressive hard rock band Tool.  What makes the video and song incredibly compelling is the lyrics, which teach a lesson on pattern recognition.

For those non-traders and non-mathematicians out there, a Fibonacci sequence is a series of numbers where, after two starting values, each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers.  For example, the number sequence 2, 3, 5, 8 and 13 are a Fibonacci sequence (2+3=5, 3+5=8, 5+8=13, and so on).

Making the video and song more interesting is that the cadence of the lyrics (number of syllables of succeeding verses) follows a Fibonacci sequence.  What’s more, the meaning and lesson of the lyrics implies that humans are hopelessly addicted to looking for patterns everywhere they turn:  The "over-thinking" and "over-analyzing," as the lyrics suggest, have an effect of dulling intuitive thought and often results in missed opportunities.

Pattern Recognition: Strength, Weakness or Both?

Philosopher and mathematician, T.L. Fine, once said, "A keen eye for pattern will find it anywhere." This profound statement is neither a compliment nor an affront to humankind but it suggests that a fundamental awareness of the human tendency for pattern recognition allows for a healthy balance of intuitive thought and science.

Pattern recognition is a means of making sense of randomness.  This search for understanding, which is rooted in the desire for control and safety, can be self-defeating.   Wanting to find patterns can be considered thinking "inside the box," but the answers are not always in the box.  Additionally, being comfortable without having answers can often open doors to new ideas, new opportunities and success.  Therefore asking questions is more important than having answers.  As 19th century philosopher and spiritual leader Jiddu Krishnamurti once said, "Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem."

Balance Linear And Lateral: Seek But Remain Open to Discovery

Returning to the message within the Tool song, aptly named Lateralus, too many people think and live linearly (in straight lines, black and white, inside the box), whereas thinking and living laterally (randomness, color, outside the box)–embracing the unknown–is healthy.

Perhaps the wisest solution is to balance the linear with the lateral.  There is no stopping your nature to seek and find patterns; and to eliminate this nature is nothing less than attempting to become something other than a human being.  Just be aware of your nature, and its potential limitations, and you’ll open doors to intuitive thought–expand beyond the narrow-minded linear thought–balance responsibility with adventure–seek but remain open to discovery.

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Related: Beware of Confirmation Bias

Comments

[bidrec]

"Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem."

This lecturer on Heidegger makes the same point:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJ0Wbtk19Jk

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

Thanks for the link, bidrec. I'll check it out...

[Thoughtful Comment]

IMO, it is best to live 'vertically'.

Also I do not think it's a waste of time to look for patterns. I think it is a waste of time to perceive patterns and not analyze them objectively. Either ignoring them and/or analyzing them ideologically [fitting the perception to fit the belief] makes the lessons of the patterns either worthless, or worse - self-sabotaging.

[Jaap]

hi Kent,

another lovely entry. here's an analogy from one of the greatest writers:
Jorge Luis Borges, "Death and the Compass" (original Spanish title: "La muerte y la brújula").
a police-detective is trying to solve a murder and finds a link (published in a newspaper) that has nothing to do with the actual murder, but his nemesis uses it to kill one other (and makes an alias disappear) leaving clues leading finally to the detective's early death.
looking for clues that are non-causal could even be deadly.

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

@ Thoughtful Comment: I agree. I like how you say to live "vertically." Also, patterns are like language: One must interpret them correctly; however the message that patterns send are sometimes "false" (e.g. causation/correlation mistakes).

@ Jaap: Thanks for the generous compliment. "Death and the Compass" sounds interesting. I'll have to add that to my list of "must reads." As I said in the previous response, confusing causation with correlation can indeed be self-defeating.

[Greg L]

Patterns make us focus on what we know and not on what we don't know. This is what gets us in trouble because we don't know much!

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

Good point Greg. Perhaps we should try to embrace randomness and the unknown and be comfortable with not knowing?

[Thomas Hardy]

Very interesting post. Thanks for sharing. Learned a lot reading your blog.

[James Fales]

Really enjoyed watching the video in your post. Very impressive blog. Thank you for sharing.

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

@ Thomas & James: Thanks to both of you for the comments. I'd love to hear from you again...