In the previous article, I talked about the first pillar of problem solving and what it really means.
In this article, I’m going to talk about the second pillar which is the most important factor in problem solving.
That’s the principle of Simplicity.
Simplicity is one of the most prominent signs of the genius.
But, how do you define or identify simplicity? At its face, simplicity seems to be very subjective and sort of an art.
However, in many areas, there have been attempts to define and even quantify simplicity.
One of the guiding principles in science is Occam’s Razor which has its roots in simplicity.
In a nutshell, Occam’s Razor asserts that among many logical explanations of a phenomenon, most likely, the simplest is the right one. The simplest, in this case, is the one that requires the least number of assumptions.
A theory or a solution that relies on many assumptions is more likely to fall apart, because it has more points of failure.
Let me explain this with an example…
For example, when certain unidentified flying objects or optical appearances of them are witnessed, there can be many explanations for them.
All of these explanations can be logically possible but they are not equally simple.
These explanations can range from the simplest, which is based on natural phenomena and optical illusions to the most sophisticated and elaborate conspiracies, with possibly hundreds of people involved in a cover-up.
The simplest explanation based on the natural phenomena is the most stable one because it’s based on the scientific laws of Physics that have been tested numerous times.
The explanation based on conspiracy theories, on the other hand, is very unstable, because if you assume that tens or hundreds of people are engaged in an elaborate collusion to cover up something, then at any point, lack of cooperation by one individual can unravel the whole collusion. So conspiracies are more likely to fall apart.
So while there are many logical explanations for the phenomena, Occam’s Razor favors the answer that is most stable and likely.
The same can be seen in Art. Usually, simplicity in art, translates to symmetry.
Symmetric configurations are the most stable ones.
Imagine you drop a fistful of marbles on a leveled table. The marbles tend to roll on the table in all different directions and in a more or less symmetric fashion. That’s the most likely outcome.
However, if all the marbles move to one corner of the table and pile up on top of each other, then you’ll definitely be very suspicious that a mysterious force is at work that is breaking this symmetry. In other words, you’ll have to add more assumptions and parameters to the explanation.
Einstein’s Theory of Special Relativity is a great example of Occam’s Razor at work. Loosely speaking, the Theory of Special Relativity is based on 2 simple assumptions that the speed of light is constant everywhere and all points of reference are the same. Einstein’s theory beat all other explanations which were based on complex assumptions about the existence of a mysterious ether.
Even though when it comes to the principle of simplicity, we are talking about a guiding tool and art, I hope this article can shed some light on how the Occam’s Razor plus logical thinking can lead to the most genius solutions.
Dr Eric Amidi
