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
Occam's razor, Ockham's razor, or Ocham's razor ( la, novacula Occami), also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony ( la, lex parsimoniae), is the problem-solving principle that "entities should not be multiplied beyond neces ...
). 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
Simple living refers to practices that promote simplicity in one's lifestyle. Common practices of simple living include reducing the number of possessions one owns, depending less on technology and services, and spending less money. Not only is ...
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
simpleton
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In folklore, a simpleton is a person whose foolish actions are the subject of often-repeated stories. Simpletons are also known as noodles, fools, and gothamites. Folklore often holds, with no basis in fact, that certain towns or countr ...
s.
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
Occam's razor, Ockham's razor, or Ocham's razor ( la, novacula Occami), also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony ( la, lex parsimoniae), is the problem-solving principle that "entities should not be multiplied beyond neces ...
, 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
Parsimony refers to the quality of economy or frugality in the use of resources.
Parsimony may also refer to
* The Law of Parsimony, or Occam's razor, a problem-solving principle
** Maximum parsimony (phylogenetics), an optimality criterion in p ...
respectively.
John von Neumann defines simplicity as an important esthetic criterion of scientific models:
In religion
Simplicity is a theme in the
Christian
Christians () are people who follow or adhere to Christianity, a monotheistic Abrahamic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. The words ''Christ'' and ''Christian'' derive from the Koine Greek title ''Christós'' (Χρι ...
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
Anabaptism (from New Latin language, Neo-Latin , from the Greek language, Greek : 're-' and 'baptism', german: Täufer, earlier also )Since the middle of the 20th century, the German-speaking world no longer uses the term (translation: "Re- ...
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
Complexity characterises the behaviour of a system or model whose components interaction, interact in multiple ways and follow local rules, leading to nonlinearity, randomness, collective dynamics, hierarchy, and emergence.
The term is generall ...
*
Degree of difficulty
*
Elegance
*
KISS principle
*
Minimalism
In visual arts, music and other media, minimalism is an art movement that began in post–World War II in Western art, most strongly with American visual arts in the 1960s and early 1970s. Prominent artists associated with minimalism include Don ...
*
Occam's razor
Occam's razor, Ockham's razor, or Ocham's razor ( la, novacula Occami), also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony ( la, lex parsimoniae), is the problem-solving principle that "entities should not be multiplied beyond neces ...
*
Simple living
Simple living refers to practices that promote simplicity in one's lifestyle. Common practices of simple living include reducing the number of possessions one owns, depending less on technology and services, and spending less money. Not only is ...
*
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 BayesiansBr. J. Philos. Sci. Vol. 58, Dec. 2007, 46pp.
MML MML can stand for:
Academia
*Master of Modern Languages, an undergraduate degree offered by the University of Manchester, which includes the study of two modern languages to Master's level
*Medieval and Modern Languages, an undergraduate degree off ...
with
AIC.">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.
*
Maeda, J., (2006
Laws of Simplicity MIT Press
*
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.
*
Simon, Herbert A (1962
The Architecture of ComplexityProceedings 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 entryStanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry{{epistemology
Abstraction
Simple living
Razors (philosophy)