Real patterns and indispensability

Abstract

While scientific inquiry crucially relies on the extraction of patterns from data, we still have a very imperfect understanding of the metaphysics of patterns-and, in particular, of what it is that makes a pattern real. In this paper we derive a criterion of real-patternhood from the notion of conditional Kolmogorov complexity. The resulting account belongs in the philosophical tradition, initiated by Dennett (1991), that links real-patternhood to data compressibility, but is simpler and formally more perspicuous than other proposals defended heretofore in the literature. It also successfully enforces a non-redundancy principle, suggested by Ladyman and Ross (2007), that aims at excluding as real those patterns that can be ignored without loss of information about the target dataset, and which their own account fails to enforce.

The Chemical Bond is a Real Pattern

“…15 However, there are more efficient ways of describing methane. For example, it can be described using the QTAIM, which calculates the electric field at carbon 12 I don't consider whether Dennett's account should be construed as one about patterns in the data (e.g., Suñé and Martínez 2019) or about patterns in the world. I follow McAllister who interprets Dennett's account as one about patterns in the world (2010, 804).…”

“… 12 I don’t consider whether Dennett’s account should be construed as one about patterns in the data (e.g., Suñé and Martínez 2019) or about patterns in the world. I follow McAllister who interprets Dennett’s account as one about patterns in the world (2010, 804). …”

An Algorithmic Metaphysics of Self-Patterns

“… 9 It has been contended that this criterion of projectibility cannot demarcate real patterns (or at least partial non-redundant patterns) from patterns simpliciter ( Beni, 2017 ; Suñé and Martínez, 2019 ). But these considerations do not deter us from continuing our pursuit, because our present enquiry is not concerned with the association between non-compressibility and reality (more on this later in the paper).…”