Are you a complexifier or a simplifier?

I have heard this question raised many times in higher education circles. Having run around in higher education circles for more than  50 years, I have heard many questions over and over again! If I am asking you, my reader, to be honest about yourself,  shouldn’t I be willing, to be honest? Am I a complexifier or a simplifier? The simplest and perhaps the most truthful answer to this question is “Yes!” The more complex answer is “It depends!” It depends upon a number of things. Am I climbing a physical or metaphoric hill attempting to find a solution to a problem?

Trying to climb a rock wall or solve a problem can be difficult, complicated and very taxing. Many times, there are no straightforward, paved paths to the summit. You must search not only for the next hand or foot hold but the next two or three after that first one.

It may be a different tale if I am coasting down the other side of the hill trying to use that solution or to explain that solution to someone else.  One does not need to know college physics and mechanics to have a working knowledge of and enjoy the entertainment of a zip line. However, before you trust your health and life to that zip line, you had better check it out to make sure that someone who knows mechanics and safety matters set up the zip line correctly.

The scientific principles under which zip lines operate are simple physics but must be followed for safety’s sake. If someone has not correctly accounted for the height differences between the origin and terminus of the line, the tension of the cable, the weight of the load carried, and the coefficient of friction on the cable, a ride could end catastrophically.

In terms of explaining something, one of my favorite quotes is commonly attributed to Albert Einstein.

Einstein was undoubtedly a genius. But he supposedly said,

If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.

Christ spoke several times about receiving the Gospel as a child.

Mark 10:13 – 16 is one passage talking about receiving the Gospel as a young child:

¹³ And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. ¹⁴ But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. ¹⁵ Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. ¹⁶ And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them. (KJV)

Climbing a solution’s hill, I find myself in agreement with Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. and Albert Einstein. Holmes reportedly said, “I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.”  

Einstein is usually credited with formulating the principle: “A scientific theory should be as simple as possible, but no simpler.”  The search for simplicity has sometimes been likened to the Quest for the Holy Grail. It is extremely hard work and can be a fruitless search.

The inspiration of Britten’s illustration comes from the following sections of Tennyson’s poem:

I find a magic bark;
I leap on board: no helmsman steers:
I float till all is dark.
A gentle sound, an awful light!
Three angels bear the holy Grail:
With fold feet in stole of white,
On sleeping wings they sail.
Ah, blessed vision! blood of God!
My spirit beats her mortal bars,
As down dark tides the glory slides,
And star-like mingles with the stars.When on my goodly charger borne
Thro’ dreaming towns I go,  (Lines 38 – 49)

“O just and faithful knight of God!
Ride on! the prize is near.”
So pass I hostel, hall, and grange;
By bridge and ford, by park and pale,
All-arm’d I ride, whate’er betide,
Until I find the holy Grail.  (Lines 78 – 83)

Jumping to simple conclusions before one does the hard work of diligently searching for the truth or a workable solution can be very dangerous. It is also usually ineffective. I am reminded of the fabled silver bullet, that miraculous entity that very quickly and easily solves a serious, long-standing problem.  I am reminded of three different versions of the uses of silver bullets. I will come back to look at silver bullets in a future post.

Returning to the question at hand in this post: “Am I a complexifier or a simplifier?” The simplest answer is “Yes.” The next simplest answer is “It depends.” I trust this post has shared some of my complex struggles in attempting to come to a simple response.