TO: Jonathan Marder
FROM: Roger Parker
RE: Randomness and Pattern
ROGER:
If you don't mind Jonathan, I thought I would brainstorm a bit on your topic
of randomness. The ideas here are written lightly in # 2 pencil, and
certainly subject to change. It is a great angle though that could use
additional exploration.
JONATHAN:
Let me first deal with this comment from ROGER.
> I am also a tad fuzzy on some of what Jonathan M is trying to get
> across (is it that "randomness is an interpretation of experience" or
> something close?)
What I mean is that any definition of randomness is as elusive as the
definition of quality. Actually they are pretty much opposites
(quality=pattern, randomness=lack of pattern). Thus, like quality, the
concept of randomness neither objective nor subjective (I go with Pirsig
on this).
The determinists would have to say that randomness is all subjective -
since eveything is determined, then the result must always faithfully
reflect the causes. The alternative (objective randomness) obligates one
to find a cause for the randomness, something I consider an oxymoron.
ROGER:
Below are 3 somewhat unrelated thoughts on randomness and pattern.
1) Randomness and pattern....... It seems that the terms are codefining
opposites in the same way that hi defines low, hot defines cold etc. In all
these cases, they are actually more similar than unsimilar. For example, if
the class is 'height' the value is hi/low, if the class is 'temperature' the
value is....., if the class is 'order' the value is.......
2) When we think about random, we normally think of something
like.....73285491066398432876438982.....etc
But wouldn't this be a better version of random?.......7, orange, Christy
Canyon, triangle, sweet, hot, .0005080066, position left, light, pi, Mount
Rushmore, envy......etc?
And even the above is patterned in terms of rhythm (1 concept per coma)
3) The MOQ values freedom. And if you think about it, which is the highest
degree of freedom, pattern or random? I suggest the answer is both. Events
can be patterned or random. The freedom to change, or the freedom to be
patterned (one such pattern is to repeat or to stay the same over time). But
to limit events to be one or the other is a restriction of freedom. That is
another reason why I think randomness and pattern (change & not change) are
so related. If DQ is the quality event, then random or patterned are derived
from quality events. Both are sq.
If this is true, then it changes the MOQ. DQ is less 'unpatterned freedom'
or 'change' (at least the conventional use of the word) and more like your
old favorite.....'potential,' or perhaps my old trusty term 'experience'.
Well, regardless, I do think that random and patterned are 'interpretations
of experience' , or 'interpretations of potential'.
But I really could be wrong.
Rog
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