Math predicts the development of human organization

For the past century, an obscure mathematical principle called Zipf's law has predicted the size of mega-cities all over the world. And nobody knows why.

I dig this. This is the kind of thing that really blows my mind. Not only is our free will an illusion on a personal level, but even our behavior in groups is predictable mathematically.

Didn't Isaac Asimov's Foundation predict this?

Quote: Mosca

For the past century, an obscure mathematical principle called Zipf's law has predicted the size of mega-cities all over the world. And nobody knows why.

I dig this. This is the kind of thing that really blows my mind. Not only is our free will an illusion on a personal level, but even our behavior in groups is predictable mathematically.

Two things to blow it further:

1) The power law structure of information content in language (a) has been shown to apply to non-human terrestrial species (e.g. dolphins) and (b) should apply to extra-terrestrial species as well;
http://www.peterrussell.com/Dolphin/DolphinLang.php
and
2) Read the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov. It deals with a perhaps not-entirely-fictional branch of mathematics called "psychohistory" that is all about the prediction of large numbers of people.

Edit: paisiello mentioned the Foundation reference while I was typing, but yes. Definitely worth a read.

Quote: MathExtremist

Quote: Mosca

For the past century, an obscure mathematical principle called Zipf's law has predicted the size of mega-cities all over the world. And nobody knows why.

I dig this. This is the kind of thing that really blows my mind. Not only is our free will an illusion on a personal level, but even our behavior in groups is predictable mathematically.

Two things to blow it further:

1) The power law structure of information content in language (a) has been shown to apply to non-human terrestrial species (e.g. dolphins) and (b) should apply to extra-terrestrial species as well;
http://www.peterrussell.com/Dolphin/DolphinLang.php
and
2) Read the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov. It deals with a perhaps not-entirely-fictional branch of mathematics called "psychohistory" that is all about the prediction of large numbers of people.

Edit: paisiello mentioned the Foundation reference while I was typing, but yes. Definitely worth a read.

Let me also recommend Asimov, both the "Foundation" reference and the Robot novels and stories (several full length and maybe 50 short story/novellas. A really interesting writer and one of the best "Science Fact" guys ever.

Really interesting start to a thread, Mosca. It only takes about 3 steps back to get perspective on humans as a species and see our world like a giant formicary. Kind of like that amazing "you are HERE" shot of Earthrise from Apollo. Never gets old, looking at that.

Quote: MathExtremist

2) Read the "Foundation" series by Isaac Asimov. It deals with a perhaps not-entirely-fictional branch of mathematics called "psychohistory" that is all about the prediction of large numbers of people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychohistory_%28fictional%29

I read the Foundation trilogy repeatedly as a young adult and teenager, I read I, Robot for the first time when I was about 12. I last read Foundation sometime within the last 20 years. I have to say, it was better when I was younger.

From inside ourselves, everything human seems coincidental. We appear to ourselves as if we have free will and consequences. But since we ourselves are not just observers but also part of the fabric, why wouldn't in make sense for living things to have equations for their development as well? It is probably more absurd to think it coincidental.

Quote: Mosca

I read the Foundation trilogy repeatedly as a young adult and teenager, I read I, Robot for the first time when I was about 12. I last read Foundation sometime within the last 20 years. I have to say, it was better when I was younger.

From inside ourselves, everything human seems coincidental. We appear to ourselves as if we have free will and consequences. But since we ourselves are not just observers but also part of the fabric, why wouldn't in make sense for living things to have equations for their development as well? It is probably more absurd to think it coincidental.

Yup, when I 1st saw the name of the thread, I thought to myself Foundation trilogy. I loved those books. Cant believe a movie hasn't been made of this series yet. Cmon Peter Jackson, you did the Lord of the rings trilogy, turned the Hobbit from 1 book to a trilogy. how about filming the Foundation trilogy next.

It blows my mind since I've seen this. Me personally, I think we're all programs, that explains it but introduces more questions. Unless the facts are wrong, possibly from contamination by being exposed to computers and their tendencies. The words I use now, I plan them, but sometimes I might take the recommendations for my next words, because it's easier and I don't care that much to use a word I originally intended.

Vsauce zipf mystery video.

Wait, it says this only works for the last 100 years... but humans have been living in cities for THOUSANDS of years. How do we know it's not just some anomalous blip in the overall trend?

Quote: paisiello

Didn't Isaac Asimov's Foundation predict this?

I hope not correctly.:)