concept
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concept:natural-system-of-symmetriesNatural system of symmetries
A hierarchy of approximate symmetries that is balanced, comfortable, and characteristic of life; the specific balance that distinguishes living from dead structure.
Neighborhood — ranked by edge-count
Concepts (2)
concept
- Local SymmetriesextendsThe property that living wholes contain many interlocking and overlapping local symmetries rather than overall symmetry; local symmetries act as glue holding space together, and their number predicts cognitive coherence
- Simplicity and Inner Calmassociated_withThe property that living wholes have a geometrical simplicity and purity with a certain slowness, majesty, and quietness; everything unnecessary is removed—all centers not actively supporting other centers are stripped out
Chapters (1)
chapter
- Vol 2 — Chapter 17: SimplicityintroducesThis chapter from The Nature of Order argues that simplicity is the defining quality of a living process, examining symmetry, the drive to simplicity, nothingness, and the deepest nature of living structure.
Related by similarity (8)
cosine ≥ 0.65 · no typed edgeEntities in the same semantic neighborhood but without a typed relation to this one — candidates for new edges or unrecognized duplicates.
- Searle and Seth's position that consciousness requires specific biological/autopoietic processes; explicitly rejected by CIMC on functionalist grounds
- Alexander’s term for a system of rules governing the combination of parts; an example is a game, language, or Pattern Language.
- A structure-preserving transformation: introducing symmetries within a center, not globally, to strengthen local order.
- A system of sequences/rules that can generate well-adapted living plans, potentially implemented on computers to empower ordinary people.
- Experimental method using 35 black-and-white strips of 7 squares each (3 black, 4 white) with multiple cognitive tasks (description, memorization, tachistoscopic recognition, subjective simplicity rating) to measure perceived coherence and correlate it with number of local symmetries
- Physical principle interpreted as a form of structure-preserving transformation, explaining phenomena like buckling and dew drops.
- Defined as an integrated and complete set of tools sufficient for creating, modifying, and executing programs, including notations, facilities, and interfaces—broader than programming languages alone.