Humans are very good at seeing patterns. We see shapes in clouds, faces in shadows, and meaning in coincidences. In science and mathematics, this ability becomes a powerful tool. Patterns help us discover laws, compress data, and make sense of overwhelming complexity. But this raises a deeper question. When we say we have found a pattern, what have we really found? Is the pattern something that exists in the world itself, or is it something our minds impose in order to understand what we see? Seeing Patterns Everywhere Pattern recognition shows up across many fields. In vision, the brain groups edges, colors, and motion into objects. In data analysis, trends are extracted from noisy measurements. In mathematics, regularities are abstracted into formulas and theorems. These patterns often feel real because they are useful. Recognizing the pattern of seasons helps us predict weather. Seeing numerical patterns helps mathematicians discover relationships. Identifying shapes helps us su...