Simplicity

Simplicity is the state or quality of being simple. Something easy to understand or explain seems simple, in contrast to something complicated. Alternatively, as Herbert A. Simon suggests, something is simple or complex depending on the way we choose to describe it. In some uses, the label "simplicity" can imply beauty, purity, or clarity. In other cases, the term may suggest a lack of nuance or complexity relative to what is required.

The concept of simplicity is related to the field of epistemology and philosophy of science (e.g., in Occam's razor). Religions also reflect on simplicity with concepts such as divine simplicity. In human lifestyles, simplicity can denote freedom from excessive possessions or distractions, such as having a simple living style.

Some other information

In some contextual uses, "simplicity" can imply beauty, purity, or clarity. In other cases, the term may have negative connotations, as when referring to people as simpletons.

In philosophy of science

The concept of simplicity has been related to in the field of epistemology and philosophy of science.

According to Occam's razor, all other things being equal, the ''simplest'' theory is most likely true. In other words, simplicity is a meta-scientific criterion by which scientists evaluate competing theories.

A distinction is often made by many persons. between two senses of simplicity: syntactic simplicity (the number and complexity of hypotheses), and ontological simplicity (the number and complexity of things postulated). These two aspects of simplicity are often referred to as elegance and parsimony respectively.

John von Neumann defines simplicity as an important esthetic criterion of scientific models:

In religion

Simplicity is a theme in the Christian religion. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, God is infinitely simple. The Roman Catholic and Anglican religious orders of Franciscans also strive for personal simplicity. Members of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) practice the Testimony of Simplicity, which involves simplifying one's life to focus on what is important and disregard or avoid what is least important. Simplicity is tenet of Anabaptistism, and some Anabaptist groups like the Bruderhof, make an effort to live simply.

Lifestyle

In the context of human lifestyle, simplicity can denote freedom from excessive material consumption and psychological distractions.

See also

* Concision
* Complexity
* Degree of difficulty
* Elegance
* KISS principle
* Minimalism
* Occam's razor
* Simple living
* Simplicity theory
* Simplification (disambiguation)
* Testimony of Simplicity
* Worse is better
* John Maeda – 10 Laws of Simplicity

Notes

References

* Craig, E. Ed. (1998) Routledge Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London, Routledge. simplicity (in Scientific Theory) p. 780–783
* Dancy, J. and Ernest Sosa, Ed.(1999) A Companion to Epistemology. Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc. simplicity p. 477–479.
* Dowe, D. L., S. Gardner & G. Oppy (2007),
Bayes not Bust! Why Simplicity is no Problem for Bayesians

Br. J. Philos. Sci.
Vol. 58, Dec. 2007, 46pp. MML_with_ MML_with_ AIC..html"_;"title="Akaike_information_criterion.html"_;"title="Minimum_message_length.html"_;"title="mong_other_things,_this_paper_compares_Minimum_message_length">MML_with_Akaike_information_criterion">AIC.">Akaike_information_criterion.html"_;"title="Minimum_message_length.html"_;"title="mong_other_things,_this_paper_compares_Minimum_message_length">MML_with_Akaike_information_criterion">AIC.*_Edwards,_P.,_Ed._(1967)._The_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy._New_York,_The_Macmillan_Company._simplicity_p. 445–448.
*_Hickey,_Rich_(2011
Simple_Made_Easy
*_Kim,_J._a._E._S.,_Ed.(2000)._A_Companion_to_Metaphysics._Oxford,_Blackwell_Publishers._simplicity,_parsimony_p. 461–462.
*_ AIC..html"_;"title="Akaike_information_criterion.html"_;"title="Minimum_message_length.html"_;"title="mong_other_things,_this_paper_compares_Minimum_message_length">MML_with_Akaike_information_criterion">AIC.">Akaike_information_criterion.html"_;"title="Minimum_message_length.html"_;"title="mong_other_things,_this_paper_compares_Minimum_message_length">MML_with_Akaike_information_criterion">AIC.*_Edwards,_P.,_Ed._(1967)._The_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy._New_York,_The_Macmillan_Company._simplicity_p. 445–448.
*_Hickey,_Rich_(2011
Simple_Made_Easy
*_Kim,_J._a._E._S.,_Ed.(2000)._A_Companion_to_Metaphysics._Oxford,_Blackwell_Publishers._simplicity,_parsimony_p. 461–462.
*_John_Maeda">Maeda,_J.,_(2006
Laws_of_Simplicity
_MIT_Press
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*_Hickey,_Rich_(2011
Simple_Made_Easy
*_Kim,_J._a._E._S.,_Ed.(2000)._A_Companion_to_Metaphysics._Oxford,_Blackwell_Publishers._simplicity,_parsimony_p. 461–462.
*_John_Maeda">Maeda,_J.,_(2006
Laws_of_Simplicity
_MIT_Press
*_William_Newton-Smith">Newton-Smith,_W._H.,_Ed._(2001)._A_Companion_to_the_Philosophy_of_Science._Malden,_Massachusetts,_Blackwell_Publishers_Ltd._simplicity_p. 433–441.
*_Richmond,_Samuel_A.(1996)
A_Simplification_of_the_Theory_of_Simplicity
,_Synthese_107_373–393.
*_Sarkar,_S._Ed._(2002)._The_Philosophy_of_Science—An_Encyclopedia._London,_Routledge._simplicity
*_Schmölders,_Claudia_(1974)._Simplizität,_Naivetät,_Einfalt_–_Studien_zur_ästhetischen_Terminologie_in_Frankreich_und_in_Deutschland,_1674–1771
PDF,_37MB

*_Scott,_Brian(1996)
Technical_Notes_on_a_Theory_of_Simplicity
,_Synthese_109_281–289.
*_Herbert_A._Simon.html" ;"title="Minimum message length">MML with Akaike information criterion">AIC.">Akaike_information_criterion.html" ;"title="Minimum_message_length.html" ;"title="mong other things, this paper compares Minimum message length">MML with Akaike information criterion">AIC.* Edwards, P., Ed. (1967). The Encyclopedia of Philosophy. New York, The Macmillan Company. simplicity p. 445–448.
* Hickey, Rich (2011
Simple Made Easy
* Kim, J. a. E. S., Ed.(2000). A Companion to Metaphysics. Oxford, Blackwell Publishers. simplicity, parsimony p. 461–462.
* John Maeda">Maeda, J., (2006
Laws of Simplicity
MIT Press
* William Newton-Smith">Newton-Smith, W. H., Ed. (2001). A Companion to the Philosophy of Science. Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Ltd. simplicity p. 433–441.
* Richmond, Samuel A.(1996)
A Simplification of the Theory of Simplicity
, Synthese 107 373–393.
* Sarkar, S. Ed. (2002). The Philosophy of Science—An Encyclopedia. London, Routledge. simplicity
* Schmölders, Claudia (1974). Simplizität, Naivetät, Einfalt – Studien zur ästhetischen Terminologie in Frankreich und in Deutschland, 1674–1771
PDF, 37MB

* Scott, Brian(1996)
Technical Notes on a Theory of Simplicity
, Synthese 109 281–289.
* Herbert A. Simon">Simon, Herbert A (1962
The Architecture of Complexity
Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society 106, 467–482.
* Wilson, R. A. a. K., Frank C., (1999). The MIT Encyclopedia of the Cognitive Sciences. Cambridge, Massachusetts, The MIT Press. parsimony and simplicity p. 627–629.
* If Not God, Then What? (2007) by Joshua Fost, p. 93

External links

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry
{{epistemology

Abstraction
Simple living
Razors (philosophy)