2 ms·

the rate of occurrence of the golden ratio in nature is really overstated. snail shells follow approximate logarithmic spirals, and while you can certainly find

the rate of occurrence of the golden ratio in nature is really overstated. snail shells follow approximate logarithmic spirals, and while you can certainly finds ones which approximate the golden spiral, it's not the mode or even the mean afaict. the reasons for this aren't really unknown; these patterns occur in very simple growth models. even if the golden ratio were as prevalent as it popularly thought, it still wouldn't really situate math (the map) in a causal role; rather it would suggest a common physical factor which the math models. in general, it arguably doesn't seem terribly surprising that lots of things in the world have share simple patterns, even without causal connections, simply by virtue of that there are far fewer simple patterns to go around than complicated ones, sort of a generalized 'law of small numbers'

eyelidlessness 6y ago
> wouldn't really situate math (the map) in a causal role I know I can improve my communication skills, but it’s extremely frustrating to have such a hard time expressing a thought without having drastically different intentions bolted onto it. Maybe you’re right that it’s not terribly surprising. But I didn’t even kind of suggest that “math” has a “causal role”. I made another comment higher up relating how the way I think is another set of approximations and abstractions of reality. My point was far from saying that there’s some “truth” in math, quite the opposite.
- disconcision 6y ago
  thats a fair frustration. i hadn't seen your comment in the other thread. in retrospect i was making an undue generalization based on "golden ratio" + "unknown universal constant". there's a lot of naively-platonist woo around this particular juxtaposition. apologies if that's not where you were going.
  - eyelidlessness 6y ago
    Thank you. This sincerely makes me feel better. And not that it’s related but right after hoofing a bunch of crap up a hill in rain with bags falling apart and almost losing a bunch of household basics, it’s a pleasant thing to return to an exchange on here that’s considerate and not escalated. Addressing your response, I’m sure there’s a bit of detectable woo even after clarification, but it’s just wonder. I don’t think there’s a magical energy core connecting all life. I just think that it’s a fascinating thing about physical reality that a mathematical constant as defined by humans is something that finds expression in a lot of seemingly unrelated places. It’s entirely possible that the ratio is just common enough in growth patterns, or just a pattern than emerges when the right set of otherwise common constraints come together. It’s just neat to me, that’s all.

eyelidlessness 6y ago

> wouldn't really situate math (the map) in a causal role I know I can improve my communication skills, but it’s extremely frustrating to have such a hard time expressing a thought without having drastically different intentions bolted onto it. Maybe you’re right that it’s not terribly surprising. But I didn’t even kind of suggest that “math” has a “causal role”. I made another comment higher up relating how the way I think is another set of approximations and abstractions of reality. My point was far from saying that there’s some “truth” in math, quite the opposite.

disconcision 6y ago
thats a fair frustration. i hadn't seen your comment in the other thread. in retrospect i was making an undue generalization based on "golden ratio" + "unknown universal constant". there's a lot of naively-platonist woo around this particular juxtaposition. apologies if that's not where you were going.
- eyelidlessness 6y ago
  Thank you. This sincerely makes me feel better. And not that it’s related but right after hoofing a bunch of crap up a hill in rain with bags falling apart and almost losing a bunch of household basics, it’s a pleasant thing to return to an exchange on here that’s considerate and not escalated. Addressing your response, I’m sure there’s a bit of detectable woo even after clarification, but it’s just wonder. I don’t think there’s a magical energy core connecting all life. I just think that it’s a fascinating thing about physical reality that a mathematical constant as defined by humans is something that finds expression in a lot of seemingly unrelated places. It’s entirely possible that the ratio is just common enough in growth patterns, or just a pattern than emerges when the right set of otherwise common constraints come together. It’s just neat to me, that’s all.