Denying complexity: In principle, it’s all just simple
Us humans like our simple stories. but we live in a Universe where some systems are complex. For those systems, many stories can have some truth to them. For me, that is a source of wonder and delight
Continuing to explore my many stories about complex systems. See this first post for an introduction
Us humans do like our simple stories. The real truth that makes all other stories false. Unfortunately, we live in a Universe where some systems are complex. They are systems with multiple interconnections, systems with feedback loops. Such systems resist the simple story of one thing leads to another. For complex systems, many stories have some truth to them.
The impulse to find a simple story is understandable. It can lead to good prediction and total control. Good survival instinct that. For complex systems, no one simple story is the true story. Multiple stories have some truth to them. That doesn’t mean you have no possibility of prediction or control, it is just a lot more work, and a lot less certain.
That is a hassle, so us humans will go to great lengths to avoid recognizing complexity. I do it myself. There are a couple of trigger words I notice when I am doing that. “Just” is one of them. I go on alert when I hear someone (myself included) say “It’s just a…..”. The situation may indeed be simple. But often, the speaker is avoiding recognizing complexity. The avoidance trick is to focus on one simple component you do understand, so as to avoid the complex interactions amongst them. It’s in the interactions that the difficulty and delight of complex systems reside.
Even in static systems, the relationships between the components are a big part of the picture. A cathedral is just a heap of stones. A castle is just a heap of stones. A quarry is just a heap of stones. Some truth to that. But leaving out the relationships is clearly missing something important, even in these simple cases. Once you get to complex, dynamic systems, those relationships and interactions become the major part of the story. Denying that makes the story simple, but lacking in some important truth.
Talking simply, a cell is just a collection of molecules. A brain just a collection of neurons. Some truth to that. But much of what we find important about those systems comes from the complex connections between the components, not the individual properties of the components themselves. The emergent properties not obvious without the proper context. A cell that is just a collection of molecules would not have Life, a brain that was just a collection of neurons would not have Imagination.
Another strategy for dismissing complexity is the phrase “In principle”. Perfectly fine when pointing to a simple rule underlying a complex system. In principle, a cup of water is just a bunch of water molecules. Can be a useful description in the right context. But it can be used to focus on simple components, and deny the importance of larger scale properties. In principle, peace in the Middle East is simple. People just need to stop fighting each other. Obviously an over simplification in this case. But also an example of the denial of complexity that often turns up after the phrase “in principle”.
In principle, denying complexity is just a simple way of making life easier. Works a lot of the time too. But, in my experience, being ready to see the other stories make life easier and more predictable. When approaching complex situations, predict that multiple outcomes are possible. When discussing complex topics, agree that other viewpoints have some truth to them. Setting such expectations when dealing with complexity will lead to more realistic results.
Research, and personal experience, shows that happiness is much influenced by the gap between expectations and results. Expecting simple answers from complex systems is likely to lead to disappointment, and then unhappiness. For me, the intricate dance of probability as our complex future unfolds is a source of wonder and delight. Some days anyway. Hope you find it that way too.
See the first post for an introduction to this series. See the home page for previous posts on the topic. Of particular relevance is this one on Emergent Properties. For more about the author, see the About page.