The Golden Rule – Theory

The Golden Rule (or Ratio) is a mathematical, scientific and artistic term which is represented by the Greek letter φ (phi) and equals 1.618 (rounded to a thousandth). Put simply, the rule represents a sequence where a number in the sequence is equal to the sum of the last two numbers that came before it. This can be visualised mathematically as:

0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89… (indefinitely)

This rule is seen throughout the creation or design of everything natural, with humans taking inspiration from it within various art forms. Here it is visualised simply in a diagram:

A Fibonacci Spiral

In the spiral, the size of each sector is summed by the addition of the last two sectors, creating a spiral which grows as a result of this rule. These are examples of the Golden Rule within nature:

It has been theorised that artists throughout time have used this rule to create visually pleasing paintings, drawings and architecture:


The Golden mean may also refer to the philosophy between the deficient, middle and excess. The theory tells us that the middle ground between a deficit and excess is the most desirable. For example, a virtuous trait such as courage is only virtuous when it is kept in check (as courage), if it is taken to an excessive regard, it becomes recklessness, and a deficit of it becomes cowardice, the latter two clearly being the least desirable. This theory was acknowledged by Greek philosophers such as Plato and Aristotle, as well as others throughout western and eastern culture. A Greek story which clearly demonstrates this concept would be Icarus: Where Icarus and his father Daedalus escape imprisonment by King Mino using wings Daedalus made for himself and his son. Daedalus instructed Icarus to not fly too low to the sea or too high (the excesses), Icarus disobeyed his father and flew too close to the sun, with the wax holding his wings together melting, causing Icarus to fall into the sea and drown.


In my AI generated images, I will attempt to incorporate the golden rule by entering prompts such as ‘Fibonacci sequence’, ‘Fibonacci spiral’, ‘golden mean’, etc. to see how the AI software interprets this concept. I could also use a diagram of the golden mean spiral which will aid the software in creating it’s likeness.

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