The phenomenon of emergence is the way complex systems or patterns arise out of simple interactions. Think of a school of fish. Without a leader, each individual fish goes in the same direction as the other guy, never getting too close nor out of line. It’s beautiful to watch. But what’s going on here, a collective consciousness? Continue reading
Conspiracy theories revolve around simple patterns. One plus two equals three. Square pegs fit into round holes. For example, a story hits CNN that President Obama isn’t an US citizen. Alongside the story, an image of him in traditional Kenyan garb. You’ll connect the dots: Obama + Kenyan dress = not US citizen. This is confirmation bias. And it’s amplified if you have a negative view of Obama. So how often do you form erroneous conclusions everyday? Continue reading
Wired Soup 