Confusion between complexity and simplicity
I bumped into a discussion about complexity and simplicity, starting from the image of a power point made by the U.S. military.
http://aidontheedge.info/2010/11/13/the-simplicity-on-the-far-side-of-complexity/
My paper in BA, majoring in Aesthetics, argued about the similarity between complexity theory and Buckminster Fuller's theory. The design of Fuller's works looks like this. Aesthetically it looks simple. What is interesting is that theoretically, his philosophy is similar to "complexity" theory even though it looks simple aesthetically. But why? Because, in my understanding, the important point of complexity theory is that there is somehow a simple principle behind something apparently complicated, so the name could have been "simplicity" theory.
Anyway why the discussion reminded me of my old paper was that it suggests that there is sometimes a gap between complexity in appearance and the simplicity of the principle behind it. It would be a good lesson for design. If something looks simple, it doesn't mean that it includes "simplicity" in the whole system, and on the other hand, if something looks complicated, it doesn't mean that the system behind it is also complicated.
http://aidontheedge.info/2010/11/13/the-simplicity-on-the-far-side-of-complexity/
My paper in BA, majoring in Aesthetics, argued about the similarity between complexity theory and Buckminster Fuller's theory. The design of Fuller's works looks like this. Aesthetically it looks simple. What is interesting is that theoretically, his philosophy is similar to "complexity" theory even though it looks simple aesthetically. But why? Because, in my understanding, the important point of complexity theory is that there is somehow a simple principle behind something apparently complicated, so the name could have been "simplicity" theory.
Anyway why the discussion reminded me of my old paper was that it suggests that there is sometimes a gap between complexity in appearance and the simplicity of the principle behind it. It would be a good lesson for design. If something looks simple, it doesn't mean that it includes "simplicity" in the whole system, and on the other hand, if something looks complicated, it doesn't mean that the system behind it is also complicated.
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