Why we love to solve puzzles
In virtually all cultures there are puzzles or ritual re-shapings. The almost ubiquitous Cat’s Cradle starts with a simple closed loop and becomes ever more complex until, in some versions, it reverts to the original. This is a perfect representation of the universal process.
Jig saw puzzles also exert a wide fascination and these can readily be seen as simple models of the process of cyclical destruction and creation. They show, too, in an approximate way, the necessity of the destructive phase because, obviously, without this there is no challenge and no satisfying process.
Puzzles are popular because people sense that we are all part of a massive ‘pass-time’ process and they reassure us that order can and will one day be restored.
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