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Why are man-made creations so symmetrical?
Why is this world so symmetrical, have you ever thought about it? Nature and all man-made things have to be symmetrical. Did 'God' have an obsession with symmetry which has translated to everything we create? Is it because our minds, symmetrical in nature, can only understand objects in symmetry?
This idea has troubled and puzzles me everywhere I turn. As i write this, my laptop, my phone the plate next to me, the bottle of coke on my table all this objects are so symmetrical yet each unique in its own way serving a different purpose. Maybe something beyond us created this universe of things so symmetrical that's why we are obsessed with perfection, thrive in order, and relate to the normal of symmetry.
I am quite new at TED and was wondering if anyone has ever explored this peculiar existence that cuts through nature and the man-made objects.
Eric Luther
In summation the apparent symmetry and mathematical regularity of our natural world is due to the particular set of physical rules that our universe seems to exhibit.
Eric Luther
A perfect sphere minimizes volume while maximizing surface area. This mathematical phenomenon has relevance to the observable world when we look at the shape of a bacterial cell and cells in general (I'm a microbiologist, so this was an example that came easy). Exposed surface area is important because all of the cell's metabolic processes are powered by a difference in electrical potential generated at the cell surface. Most of the chemical processes going on inside of the cell rely on diffusion. The greater the volume of a system the more potential paths there are for a single particle to travel. Therefore, greater volume means that the rate of diffusion is lessened. Minimizing volume means the cell can carry out its metabolism efficiently. Maximizing surface area means the most amount of space is dedicated to energy production. Constraints imposed by the nature of the physical universe and the tendency for perfect geometrical shapes to either maximize or minimize values would explain the abundance of near symmetrical objects.
For multicellular organisms sphere comes into play again. Most organisms we think of are bilaterally symmetrical. This is a consequence of the nature of embryological development and the various physical constraints. Diffusion and spheres come into play again as cells communicate with and coordinate their development into an organism. Based on the passive diffusion of chemical signals to one another the blank stem cells form into the various cells of tissues. Since diffusion is three dimensional the signals go left and right from a central population of cells. The result is that the organism ends up with mirroring left and right sides.
Erik Schwarz
From there we can expand to rhyme. Rhyme is the repetition of key elements (e.g. ending) of sequential lines (of poems), but given some rhythm and the rhyme, they become parallel and symmetrical. Look at how this has been ritualized in typesetting for poetry.
We are symmetrical to a greater degree, and we enjoy symmetrical faces, so there is some cognitive bias on that.
Finally, suppose you are designing a thing, say a chest. Balance has been repeated often in previous commentaries, symmetry guarantees balance above any other construct. But let's assume you are the designer. You have designed the left part and proven it is useful and safe. Then you copy-paste + flip-horizontally + match corresponding edges, and erase the shared wall. Your finished work is beautiful, fast, proven, and balanced. How else could you attain those attributes for the finished product without symmetry?
As for assymmetry, that can be beautiful too. We humans love surprises, especially humorous ones !
Vincenzo Sergi
Ziska Childs 50+
James Zhang 30+
I'm reading a book on Aspergers/Autism, and these guys tend to be highly logical and tend to be fascinated by symmetry and things that resemble clockworks (like windmills).
Eric Luther
A common theme in psychology is that our brain employs shortcuts (heuristics) to solve problems. One of the problems that our brain has is how to represent a three dimensional reality out of sounds, light, and proprioception (the ability to sense where your body parts are without looking at them). Visual data is especially important in reaching judgments in discriminating between objects or in analyzing the features of an object, but our brain can only process a very small point of the entire visual field at any given moment, so the eyes are constantly darting here and there taking in little bits while the brain generates the perception of a whole/intact outside world.
Perfect geometrical objects have fewer irregularities that the brain needs to process in order to form a theoretical object, so it seems plausible to me that the human tendency to create pseudo-symmetry is related to how it allows an object whose goal is aesthetic or functional to fade into the mental background more quickly than something irregularly shaped. Checking my intuitions it seems that I would notice a fallen tree in the forest more quickly than I would notice an intact tree amongst many. This can be tested, of course.
In summary, the perception of symmetry might be an illusion derived from the brains tendency to create shortcuts and the visual simplicity of regular geometric solids results in their being less attention grabbing.
Rob Rachlin
Here's another question that may be closely related: why do so many natural objects display Fibonacci sequences? Though not symmetrical, they represent highly structured and often repeated patterns that occur for no reason that is obvious to a casual observer. Why does nature like them so much?
Fritzie Reisner 100+
angela chun
Chad Hynes
Certain things have symmetrical patterns and designs in them because they're typically more efficient to produce, put together, take apart, instruct on usage, etc.
When it comes to things that aren't mass produced, symmetry usually takes a back seat. Art, for example, is often not symmetrical at all. There's no need for art to be more efficient, but there is a need to build houses efficiently. Artistic houses on the other hand... that's why you pay the big bucks for it.
Andrey Kurchatoff
You said that even your laptop is symmetrical, I think it is because of what our eyes are accostumed to. Say in your lapop was assymetrical, and the screen is assymetrical in that case your eyes cannot persieve right imag to send information to your brain.
Your said the bottle of coke is also symmetrcal. Well now look to your palm, and ask next question. IF the bottle of coke had say was bumpy, and odd???
Lopo Ekeroth Simoes
Symmetrical systems have very low entropy, which implies a considerable amount of stored energy. what we call beauty or balance is just the rhetoric the nervous system has created to help us deal with these complex systems.
In terms of man made design, putting aside all the cases where symmetry is necessary for function, symmetry is simply used as a way to get our brain to pay attention.
Andrey Kurchatoff
But I have a question? So you are saying that everything we like is because of energy in things we like? Does that mean that what I like is not the actual thing, but the structer of energy stored in an object?
I would appriciate your answer lopo.
Dave Keats
If you think about objects from the perspective of stability, the most stable objects / structures are symmetrical. Think of the fact that the planets are (basically) spheres. If you have ever seen salt in its natural state, its structure is cubic. Cubes, spheres, cylinders, pyramids - all stable structures.
Andrey Kurchatoff
For example, houses, shopping malls etc. If something is only symmetrical why many people say it is ordinary? But when there is an assymetrical objecs with symmetrical objects people like them?
Is it possible to say that mauntains are also called stable? What do you mean by perspectiv of stability?
Then, how about rocks?
Dave Keats
I suppose asymmetry can be more interesting. And, with regard to buildings, engineering is only 1 factor. Other things come into play like architechture, aesthetics, "curb appeal", the ability to sell something interesting, etc.
Asymmetry can be dealt with in Engineering, it's just a bit more difficult.
I suppose mountains are stable. Roughly speaking, you might think of them like pyramids (as I mentioned above).
By stability, I meant that natural forces are not tending to re-shape or reform the objects into another shape. For example, the planets are going to remain approximately spherical.
Andrey Kurchatoff
Robert Winner 50+
This is not unknown to artist, engineers, musicians, etc ... What you seek is Phi .. the golden ratio. Look it up and I think you will have a better appreciation for the symmetry in nature and all about you.
I wish you 1.61803 in your life.
All the best. Bob.
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
Mats Kaarbö 10+
Colleen Steen 500+
Mats Kaarbö 10+
chen xin
and .now we have build something different .and we have The imperfect beauty.and ther forms .so i think with our concept development ,we will build more different ,
Colleen Steen 500+
I believe that it is natural for humans to seek balance, so I do not agree that symmetry "cuts through nature".
Definition of symmetrical: "having corresponding points whose connecting lines are bisected by a given point..."
Definition of symmetry: "balanced proportions: beauty of form arising from balanced proportions".
If we look at art, for example, we may see and experience balance (symmetry), even though the art may not be technically symmetrical. The gardens I create have NO straight lines, nor are they EVER symmetrical. They are balanced with color, shape, size and form, but never symmetrical. I create gardens to reflect nature. I don't think we ever see symmetrical lines in nature, and we DO see a great deal of symmetry/balance. You are an engineer, so surely, you understand why some man made things need to be more or less symmetrical for practical reasons?
Because you brought "God" and "something beyond us created this universe" into this discussion, I suggest that the "idea", which " has troubled and puzzles" you everywhere you turn, is more about god and the creation of the universe, rather than the question of symmetrical.
chen xin
i always live a life of balance , when i spend too much today ,tomorrow i will reduce it .and when i talk too much today .i will reduce my words tomorrow ,many things we need balance ,and i think life itself is a balance ,
haha .
Colleen Steen 500+
I think balance is good in every aspect of the life adventure. Can you think of any situation where balance is NOT useful?
chen xin
we should balance all the aspects in our life ,
Andrey Kurchatoff
I believe successful people like both symmetry and assymetry only whn they are togeather.
For your question Can you think of any situation where balance is NOT useful?
Yes I do. I believe many successful people do not accept that balance is useful. Because of unbalances and
failures people learnt about real success and how to achiece it. So i think balance is not always useful.
Peter Law 30+
Things that we manufacture are mostly symmetrical because they are cheaper & easier to make that way. The more we delve into the nano machinery of biology, the more we see similar engineering. Could be that the 'Master Engineer' found the same benefits in symmetry that we are finding today.
That said, not everything is symmetrical. Trees, clouds, mountains, rivers etc appear to be produced somewhat differently.
Funny how in our bodies we have two of most things, but there is still a symmetry about the parts we only have one of.
:-)
Frans Kellner 100+
Gerald O'brian 50+
Mats Kaarbö 10+
Shaun MacDonald
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Many objects are a combination of some symmetric aspects and some asymetric.
As you asked specifically about research, research into highly creative people shows that highly creative people tend to have an aesthetic preference for asymmetric things and less creative people for more symmetric things.
I am thinking of the great works of art I have seen in my life. Almost none of them is composed to present a symmetric image.
Kevin Jacobson
Andrey Kurchatoff
With deep regards,
Andrey