Chapter 3 introduces natural information architecture as the study of patterns and principles that organize mind, body, and environment; and explores patterns in nature — objects, gradients, waves, spirals — that organisms must categorize for survival.
The spiral is a symbol of growth. A snail shell grows by adding calcium at its opening. As the edge rotates around a central axis, differential growth produces a spiral, often logarithmic in nature, that is sturdy, compact, and portable. The pattern invites analogy. Life is a labyrinth.
The Preface says, “there’s a spiral of contents but no table,” so that, again and again, we may return to not exactly the same spot; and as we spiral, our wisdom may grow.
I find my understanding of information architecture is growing as I write this book. I hope yours grows too as you read. For the moment, I’m happy to share a few quotes.
Our obsession with language and rationality as proof of human supremacy and exceptionalism has blinded us to the possibility of natural information architecture.
As categorization isn’t dependent on words, language is unessential to information architecture.
An eye isn’t the only way to see. A brain isn’t the only way to think. And, humans are not the only information architects.
Information is interesting when it might prove useful — to a human or a fox or a cat.
Nature is a universal pattern library, a cornucopia of elegant solutions to complex problems.
Patterns support understanding and prediction, and may hint at the architecture of the universe.
All living organisms are categorical beings or patterns who organize patterns.
Intelligence or pattern recognition for creative problem solving is a measure of this categorical capacity.
Importantly, but not surprisingly, pattern recognition is mostly unconscious.
The ability to detect and respond to useful regularities is written in brains and bodies in a language older than words.
If Chapter 3 is timeless, Chapter 4 is timely. We’ll explore the information architecture of natural and artificial intelligence and consciousness. I expect it to be super-duper.