Summary on simplicity
Topic: Simplicity
by Daniel, 2018 Cohort
Note: This entry was created in 2018, when the task was to “summarise a key reading”, and so may not represent a good example to model current primer entries on.
Simplicity is a state of being with the fewest the assumptions to describe a hypothetical problem. Counter-intuitively exploring and elucidating the core of simplicity is a complex issue. This primer will attempt to explore the different definitions, justifications and criticisms that are widely accepted by the academic community. From this analysis, the principle of simplicity is inherently meaningful and useful for humans. The tendency to find simplicity through complex systems is the drive for meaning and beauty. Simplicity propagates through complexity and with courage to do so will beget back to simplicity.
The most accepted view of being simple is Occams Razor, or the law of parsimony which presents the problem-solving principle that one should select a solution that uses the fewest assumptions to the hypothetical problem. This is recognised through many perspectives of academia such as Einsteins idea that the grand aim of science is to cover the greatest possible number of empirical facts by logical deductions from the smallest possible number of hypotheses or axioms (quoted in Maurer 1984, p. 464).
The principle of simplicity can be justified out of many distinct courses of inquiry. The rational perspective justifies the theoretical virtue of simplicity is often invoked as a primitive, self-evident proposition that cannot be further justified nor elaborated upon (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy). In the theological framework, many people tend towards simplicity as a guide for a metaphysical and purely parsimonious truth. Here, God appears to be a simple answer to the complex questions raised by our existence. Another structure of thought pertains simplicity as an intrinsic value to theoretical goals. This however becomes naturally complex with the circular question why should we consider simplicity as a rational evaluation of explanation? which itself can be evaluated simply.
Simplicity isn’t always intuitive though, there are still criticisms for being too simple. One of the more substantial assessments of this comes from the statistical perspective for the curve-fitting problem. This is the trade-off between simplicity and goodness of fit, much like how Newtonian mechanics is too simple to explain motions on very fast scales. The principle of plenitude described by Maurer states that if three things are not enough to verify a proposition then a fourth must be added and so on, unless proven otherwise. This creates a dilemma for Occams Razor where we ought not to postulate the existence of new parameters (like further laws of motion) as simple theories become more and more complex. This again requires the necessity to make simple theories more complex when anomalies appear to disagree with the fit of the model. This generally happens until a re-evaluation of data occurs and simplicity is found again like the postulation of Einsteins theory of special relativity to explain motion at high velocities.
If we are audacious enough to find the simplicity through unravelling complexity, then we will find the most beauty, use and meaning through this. The question whether the universe is innately simple to describe is a complex question to answer as seen through some of the perspectives shown above. In the arrival for finding the core of simplicity, anomalies will appear to make it more complex to start this process again if we are courageous enough to acknowledge them.
Disclaimer#
This content has been contributed by a student as part of a learning activity.
If there are inaccuracies, or opportunities for significant improvement on this topic, feedback is welcome on how to improve the resource.
You can improve articles on this topic as a student in "Unravelling Complexity", or by including the amendments in an email to: Chris.Browne@anu.edu.au