Isn't a "random pattern" a non-sequitor?

Answer 1

More of an oxymoron, I would say.

A non sequitur is something that doesn't follow from what was said previously, whereas what you want is a term that indicates the two parts of the phrase are inherently contradictory.

WHAT IS AN OXYMORON?

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two normally contradictory terms. Oxymoron is a loanword from Greek oxy ("sharp") and moros ("dull"). Thus the word oxymoron is itself an oxymoron.

Oxymorons are a proper subset of the expressions called contradictions in terms. What distinguishes oxymorons from other paradoxes and contradictions is that they are used intentionally, for rhetorical effect, and the contradiction is only apparent, as the combination of terms provides a novel expression of some concept, such as "cruel to be kind".

RANDOM PATTERN

I would argue that patterns can be randomly generated, as in fractals. A randomly-generated set of numbers may well have unpredictable patterns within it.

Arguably a Jackson Pollock painting is created by random means (throwing cans of paint at a canvas) yet it may still contain "Rorshach Ink Blot"-type patterns within it that seem meaningful, even if they aren't.

So the contradiction is only an apparent one, as patterns created by conceivably design aren't the only possible patterns that could potentially exist, and so an oxymoron, as a literary device, seems the appropria\te word to describe what the phrase "random pattern" is an example of.

AN EXAMPLE OF A SUSTAINED SERIES OF OXYMORONS, DONE FOR DELIBERATE EFFECT

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to Heaven, we were all going direct the other way..." Charles Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities",

Answer 2

Random and pattern are not oxymoronic. What is random is the event that gives us a data point. But these random events can, and often do, form patterns of frequency distribution...the most commonplace of which is the so-called Normal curve pattern.

What you have run into with "random pattern" is yet another example of why technical people should not invent terms. Random pattern is a sloppy, lazy way of saying "pattern of random event frequency," but that's just too long to say each time. Unfortunately, science and math are full of such arcane misleading definitions and terms.

Answer 3

The term "pattern" in mathematics usually describes the model by which predictions of future events or (in this case) successive terms can be predicted. If that prediction is unattainable due to the randomness of the progression, then the only possible descriptor for the sequence of numbers is the phrase "random sequence" which directs the observer to discontinue searching for a numerical analysis and accept the purpose of the sequence which is to generate random numbers for a desired outcome. "Random Numbers" do have applications in statistical analysis ans probability functions.

Answer 4

If "pattern" implies some sort of repetition or regularity, yes.

Answer 5

No.