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In the physical world, asymmetry is an underlying necessity for any change to happen. For example, the ‘death of the universe’ happens when all energy gradients are exhausted, and there are no asymmetries to create a gradient for energy to flow. If it weren’t for the micro asymmetries in the very early universe, nothing interesting like structures
... See moreA property of visual equivalence among elements in a form. Symmetry has long been associated with beauty, and is a property found in virtually all forms in nature. It can be seen in the human body (e.g., two eyes, two ears, two arms and legs), as well as in animals and plants. Symmetry in natural forms is largely a function of the influence of
... See moreWilliam Lidwell, Kritina Holden, Jill Butler • Universal Principles of Design, Revised and Updated: 125 Ways to Enhance Usability, Influence Perception, Increase Appeal, Make Better Design Decisions, and Teach through Design
No fact emerges more clearly from our analysis of how four million political stories were linked, tweeted, and shared over a three-year period than that there is no symmetry in the architecture and dynamics of communications within the right-wing media ecosystem and outside of
Robert Faris • Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics
When directly compared or weighted against each other, losses loom larger than gains. This asymmetry between the power of positive and negative expectations or experiences has an evolutionary history. Organisms that treat threats as more urgent than opportunities have a better chance to survive and reproduce.
Morgan Housel • The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
And we can almost always detect antifragility (and fragility) using a simple test of asymmetry: anything that has more upside than downside from random events (or certain shocks) is antifragile; the reverse is fragile.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb • Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder (Incerto Book 3)
Asymmetries: Finally, you need to think about something we might call “metaprobability”—the probability that your probability estimates themselves are any good.