Pattern Theory

There is a new animal on the block in science: Pattern Theory.

Traditionally, the Theory of Causality prevails in explaining natural phenomena.
That is seeing nature from a particular point of view which does not always give a satisfactory answer. As I understand it, this is the case at the quantum level where fundamental particle/waves behave in strange ways.

This gives rise to a new (old) way of looking at things: The power of habits. We are very aware of this at the human/animal level with both "good" and "bad" habits being very easy to maintain (by and large) and difficult to change.

Now for the revelation: Does this phenomenon apply to Nature in general as well? Can we explain the behavior of natural systems in terms of acquired habits? I believe we can, and in the process gain a deeper understanding of natural phenomena.

What is a pattern?
A pattern is revealed to the observer over time and/or across space, as the case may be, as something that repeats itself in some kind of complex or simple way. The revealed pattern can be used as a tool by the observer to predict future phenomena.

Patterns range in nature from the day/night cycle to the woven pattern in a piece of cloth to the postulated spin of the electron around a nucleus. Extremely complex weather patterns develop in our atmosphere and ocean currents can change in predictable ways: El Nino - La Nina.

When we try to apply the idea of cause and effect to these complex phenomena we can easily run into trouble because they are part of much larger processes of which we are hardly aware. That is true both on the cosmic and nano levels of nature.

However, we can observe patterns and use them for our benefit without even involving the cause -effect concept. More to follow.