If someone looks at the movement of leaves in a bush and sees randomness, when in fact it's caused by a hidden tiger, the mistake will be costly. If someone thinks a tiger is there when in fact it's just the wind, the cost is far less. Natural selection, in a big way, favors those who see tigers that aren't there, over those who don't see tigers that are there.
The value of seeing patterns is that it enables you to predict the future, at least in a general way. In video poker, this means maximizing profit based on understanding long-term expected results. In life, it means surviving and procreating, thanks to running away from tigers when necessary.
As has come up in this discussion: Recognizing patterns, and thus more accurately predicting the future, doesn't always result in increased happiness. It may SEEM that greater understanding (like greater wealth) would invariably make one happier, but experience shows that this isn't always the case.
Stuart
http://stuart-randomthoughts.blogspot.com/
