Superhero Lessons in Analytics — Ep. XIX
Surfaces and Essences — Lessons from Legion
Legion is back at it. Season two began last week. So are we. We have featured Legion before — episode XI. Legion is so full of perspective twisting content and plot lines that even one episode into season two, there is plenty more to draw from. Let’s just say — it is a little trippy.
Life is trippy, just not so much as Legion, unless you are on some heavy narcotics. Even then, with super powers, alternate dimensions, and shadow kings — Legion may win. It is hard to even know when the story is taking place… or where… or even if. So how does this apply to analytics?
Cue the dance number… wait what?
Legion has featured a few (and we are only 9 episodes in). Legion teaches you to expect the unexpected, to question everything, and to look for connections others haven’t. If we left it there, we would run a great risk of turning analysts into philosophers… so let’s get to a better (more analytic) question.
How should Legion’s “trippy-ness” inspire analysts without forcing them into a life of philosophy?
Legion is a dance of perspectives, facets, aspects, surfaces, and occasionally essences. It is a prime example of the philosophical issues confronted by those seeking to create or at least understand the potential of Artificial Intelligence. But again, we used the adjective philosophical… how does this apply?
As a short aside, Douglas Hofstadter’s book Surfaces and Essenses is an equally trippy but far more targeted look at the human mind and the implications for Artificial Intelligence. In his defense, it is both less trippy and easier to read than his canon opus — Godel Escher Bach (GEB). The latter could never be called a short aside… both are incredibly powerful reads.
Back to the dance…
How does one apply philosophy rending views on perspective to analytics? Simply recognize that they are real. Or said more analytically — they have tangible implications.
Everything, and I mean everything, in analytics is a model. The ones we take most for granted become symbols. They are mutually agreed upon representations of something far more complicated. They ignore nuance and facet. They try to capture essence, but often only speak to surfaces. Analysts need to understand this and, practically speaking (sorry philosophy guys!), they need to understand when it applies.
Let’s start with the cliche. Simple math is just that — simple. It implies standard units. It also implies a meaningful resolution of the information. In other words and practically speaking, this formula could simply be assigned a numbers format without decimals…
2.3 + 2.4 = 4.7 … nothing mind warping there
It also implies normal conditions and constraints. In this example the + is additive, not trans-formative. Imagine adding two units of dirt to two units of water… that is a lot of mud. For those engaged in supply chain and other logistics, there might also be issue with the = implying equivalence. If you start poking around packaging and location, you may disagree entirely.
Again 2 + 2 = 4 is a simple mathematical model. The word “simple” is also a model. Like its number friends, it implies much and leaves plenty to assumption. Legion teaches us not to assume anything or at least to be quick to toss all assumptions out the window.
Actually, Legion is a bit more subtle. If you actually stop assuming everything, you are likely going to go insane. Legion is a story of holding on to nearly every assumption just long enough to get to the next plot device. That is true for the audience, that is true for David (our hero), and it is a great analogy for analysts.
Assume everything so long as it serves, but no longer.
Finally, Legion is a search for essence. Even just nine episodes in, the essence of most of the major characters has become clear. We may not be certain that any actually exist outside the mind of David. But their role in the story, their essence, has been revealed. Mostly.
This is another analogy for analysts. Much in the DSA space is made of subject matter expertise. In analytics, that is just a representative model making the assumption that you have enough experience to know the right assumptions to be made. Mostly.
Watch Legion, if you dare. Pay attention. You will need to if you have any hope of following along.
But remember to loosen your grip on assumptions. We are not just referring to the TV series. Thanks for reading!
No philosophers were injured in the making of this article — tangibly.
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