Symmetry

Symmetry is essential in math, since it is requisite in equations, graphs, and the laws of logic. Mathematicians can build an entire universe with them, a gigantic pyramid of formulas and equations and knowledge that is certain and unequivocal. But the way this world is viewed doesn’t always correspond to the world we live in, especially since the latter can seem so chaotic and unpredictable at times.

When we look at a building or artwork that is hung in a gallery, they need to be leveled, symmetrical, and centered. We’d prefer things to be that way because it makes sense in our minds, and because of real world applications. If one picture is slightly lower than another, we notice it right away. If a building is not perfectly flat (leveled), we know that things will start to roll on the floor.

When we see something that is off centered or uneven, we want to fix it, since it gives us the impression that there is a tad bit of disorder and uncertainty about it. This way of looking at things can have application in our everyday lives, such as the lines on the road, the way a tree is planted, or the piles of papers and office supplies that are on our desk.

Perhaps the idea that everything needs to be symmetrical has to do with the way we see an ideal world, a world which is geometric and orderly. But the world we live in isn’t exactly that, and in some cases, the imperfections we notice might be the way things are supposed to be, since nature’s rules aren’t always in accord with our own.