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Analogies are only useful to the extent they have explanatory power. The assertion here is that this one doesn’t: there are several distinct growth mechanisms a
by wrs 3y ago
Analogies are only useful to the extent they have explanatory power. The assertion here is that this one doesn’t: there are several distinct growth mechanisms applied in sequence, not a recursive application of the same mechanism.
- anigbrowl 3y agoDifferent mechanisms can use the same template. The Romanesco cauliflower is so obviously self-similar that ignoring this in favor of talking about mechanisms that vary according to scale needs is missing the forest for the trees.
- anonymouskimmer 3y agoBiology has the concept of convergent evolution. Would you say a Thylacine is a Wolf, and that it's appropriate to treat one as the other? Fractals are a singular example of repeating patterns, but there are additional repeating pattern types that aren't fractals. Just like Thylacines and Wolves were/are examples of apex predators, not versions of each other.