814:
334:(scientific model) must satisfy certain esthetic criteria - that is, in relation to how much it describes, it must be rather simple. I think it is worth while insisting on these vague terms - for instance, on the use of word rather. One cannot tell exactly how "simple" simple is. Simplicity is largely a matter of historical background, of previous conditioning, of antecedents, of customary procedures, and it is very much a function of what is explained by it.
121:
73:
32:
628:
A distinction is often made between two fundamentally distinct senses of simplicity: syntactic simplicity (roughly, the number and complexity of hypotheses), and ontological simplicity (roughly, the number and complexity of things postulated). These two facets of simplicity are often referred to as
293:
There is a widespread philosophical presumption that simplicity is a theoretical virtue. This presumption that simpler theories are preferable appears in many guises. Often it remains implicit; sometimes it is invoked as a primitive, self-evident proposition; other times it is elevated to the status
360:
Collinson identified a role for "simplicity-minded managers", managers who were "predisposed towards simplicity", and identified a set of characteristics related to the role, namely "ruthless prioritisation", the ability to say "no", willingness to iterate, to reduce communication to the essential
372:
identified that complexity occurs in five key areas of an organisation: people, processes, organisational design, strategy, and products and services. As the "global brands report", the research is repeated and published annually. The 2022 report incorporates a
384:
found that earnings reported by "high simplicity firms" are higher than among other businesses, and that such firms "exhibit a superior performance during the period 2010 - 2015", whilst requiring lower average capital expenditure and lower
705:
347:
and the
Simplicity Partnership, which found that managers who are orientated towards finding ways of making business "simpler and more straightforward" can have a beneficial impact on their organisation.
351:
Most organizations contain some amount of complexity that is not performance enhancing, but drains value out of the company. Collinson concluded that this type of 'bad complexity' reduced profitability
709:
972:
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.
536:
83:
1622:
343:
The recognition that too much complexity can have a negative effect on business performance was highlighted in research undertaken in 2011 by Simon
Collinson of the
687:
1632:
926:
Schmölders, Claudia (1974). Simplizität, Naivetät, Einfalt – Studien zur ästhetischen
Terminologie in Frankreich und in Deutschland, 1674–1771.
1017:
874:
Dancy, J. and Ernest Sosa, Ed.(1999) A Companion to
Epistemology. Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Inc. simplicity p. 477–479.
878:
835:
1441:
305:
theory is most likely true. In other words, simplicity is a meta-scientific criterion by which scientists evaluate competing theories.
1412:
1289:
913:, Ed. (2001). A Companion to the Philosophy of Science. Malden, Massachusetts, Blackwell Publishers Ltd. simplicity p. 433–441.
857:
222:
204:
59:
637:
respectively. The terms 'parsimony' and 'simplicity' are used virtually interchangeably in much of the philosophical literature.
871:
Craig, E. Ed. (1998) Routledge
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. London, Routledge. simplicity (in Scientific Theory) p. 780–783
526:
1552:
897:
Kim, J. a. E. S., Ed.(2000). A Companion to
Metaphysics. Oxford, Blackwell Publishers. simplicity, parsimony p. 461–462.
425:
to focus on what is important and disregard or avoid what is least important. Simplicity is tenet of
Anabaptistism, and some
142:
947:
185:
1663:
1491:
414:
254:, purity, or clarity. In other cases, the term may suggest a lack of nuance or complexity relative to what is required.
157:
1486:
1392:
1302:
138:
45:
20:
888:
Edwards, P., Ed. (1967). The
Encyclopedia of Philosophy. New York, The Macmillan Company. simplicity p. 445–448.
828:
822:
1010:
750:
667:
164:
131:
1627:
1428:
1420:
1317:
1162:
691:
839:
242:. Something easy to understand or explain seems simple, in contrast to something complicated. Alternatively, as
1589:
1501:
1397:
1362:
1122:
672:
604:
882:
1569:
1402:
1278:
1212:
1034:
531:
418:
344:
171:
316:(the number and complexity of things postulated). These two aspects of simplicity are often referred to as
1658:
1516:
1436:
763:
313:
1617:
1594:
1574:
1456:
1327:
1267:
1003:
448:
430:
274:
262:
153:
1653:
1526:
1511:
1142:
910:
491:
365:, was the first ever study to calculate the cost of complexity in the world's largest organisations.
309:
787:
451:, simplicity can denote freedom from excessive material consumption and psychological distractions.
1604:
1599:
1579:
1481:
1466:
1461:
1262:
580:
1257:
1047:
402:
386:
381:
281:
style. In some cases, the term may have negative connotations, as when referring to someone as a
923:
Sarkar, S. Ed. (2002). The
Philosophy of Science—An Encyclopedia. London, Routledge. simplicity
1506:
1087:
521:
406:
270:
250:
depending on the way we choose to describe it. In some uses, the label "simplicity" can imply
277:, simplicity can denote freedom from excessive possessions or distractions, such as having a
1584:
1536:
1471:
1357:
1222:
1197:
1157:
1072:
943:
511:
327:
321:
298:
266:
243:
1476:
1342:
1337:
1232:
1187:
1067:
612:
541:
95:
51:
746:
178:
1252:
1247:
1237:
1147:
1112:
1102:
1077:
1052:
1042:
927:
501:
892:
1647:
1367:
1307:
1272:
1207:
1182:
1177:
1137:
1107:
516:
470:
465:
442:
422:
278:
649:
von Neumann, John (1955). "Method in the Physical Sciences". In Leary, Lewis (ed.).
1451:
1382:
1227:
1097:
1082:
1026:
398:
258:
904:
294:
of a ‘Principle’ and labeled as such (for example, the 'Principle of Parsimony'.
1531:
1387:
1377:
1322:
1297:
1242:
1217:
1202:
1172:
1152:
1127:
1057:
990:
962:
608:
120:
308:
A distinction is often made by many persons between two senses of simplicity:
1521:
1372:
1347:
1312:
1167:
1132:
1117:
1092:
1062:
900:
546:
506:
486:
426:
410:
247:
1496:
481:
330:
defines simplicity as an important esthetic criterion of scientific models:
282:
1352:
734:
496:
317:
735:
Brand Simplicity, Stock Returns, and Firm Characteristics: Master Thesis
239:
1332:
936:
917:
361:
points of a message and the ability to engage a team. His report, the
1446:
587:(Summer 2022 ed.), Metaphysics Research Lab, Stanford University
353:
251:
463:(French rabbi, 11th century), citation at the beginning of the film
985:
1546:
1192:
460:
374:
999:
995:
807:
269:). Religions also reflect on simplicity with concepts such as
114:
66:
25:
459:"Receive with simplicity everything that happens to you." —
879:
Bayes not Bust! Why Simplicity is no Problem for Bayesians
975:
If Not God, Then What? (2007) by Joshua Fost, p. 93
753:, published 15 December 2021, accessed 4 May 2023, p. 50
91:
409:. The Roman Catholic and Anglican religious orders of
377:
simplicity score" and an "industry simplicity score".
257:
The concept of simplicity is related to the field of
413:
also strive for personal simplicity. Members of the
1562:
1411:
1288:
1033:
145:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
955:Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society
537:Volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity
737:, published 27 October 2016, accessed 4 May 2023
877:Dowe, D. L., S. Gardner & G. Oppy (2007), "
349:
332:
312:(the number and complexity of hypotheses), and
668:For stronger leadership cut through complexity
566:
1011:
80:The examples and perspective in this article
8:
918:A Simplification of the Theory of Simplicity
788:"BBC - Inside The Bruderhof - Media Centre"
60:Learn how and when to remove these messages
1018:
1004:
996:
991:Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry
986:Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry
937:Technical Notes on a Theory of Simplicity
858:Learn how and when to remove this message
223:Learn how and when to remove this message
205:Learn how and when to remove this message
821:This article includes a list of general
708:. Simplicity Partnership. Archived from
706:"More about The Global Simplicity Index"
676:, September 2013, accessed 23 April 2023
585:The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
559:
751:World’s Simplest Brands: Ninth Edition
729:
727:
662:
660:
7:
301:, all other things being equal, the
143:adding citations to reliable sources
617:Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
421:, which involves simplifying one's
827:it lacks sufficient corresponding
690:. The Sunday Times. Archived from
380:Research by Ioannis Evmoiridis at
14:
433:, make an effort to live simply.
246:suggests, something is simple or
238:is the state or quality of being
41:This article has multiple issues.
948:"The Architecture of Complexity"
812:
119:
71:
30:
527:Simplification (disambiguation)
130:needs additional citations for
49:or discuss these issues on the
1442:Analytic–synthetic distinction
1:
583:, in Zalta, Edward N. (ed.),
397:Simplicity is a theme in the
94:and discuss the issue on the
961:(6): 467–482. Archived from
885:, Vol. 58, Dec. 2007, 46pp.
688:"How to avoid a tangled web"
415:Religious Society of Friends
363:Global Simplicity Index 2011
1487:Internalism and externalism
916:Richmond, Samuel A.(1996) "
21:Simplicity (disambiguation)
1680:
764:"Life Among The Bruderhof"
440:
18:
1613:
1318:Evolutionary epistemology
768:The American Conservative
1590:Philosophy of perception
1393:Representational realism
1363:Naturalized epistemology
939:", Synthese 109 281–289.
920:", Synthese 107 373–393.
673:Duke Corporate Education
447:In the context of human
289:In philosophy of science
1570:Outline of epistemology
1403:Transcendental idealism
842:more precise citations.
549:– 10 Laws of Simplicity
532:Testimony of Simplicity
419:Testimony of Simplicity
417:(Quakers) practice the
401:religion. According to
370:Global Simplicity Index
345:Warwick Business School
1517:Problem of other minds
651:The Unity of Knowledge
358:
336:
314:ontological simplicity
1595:Philosophy of science
1575:Faith and rationality
1457:Descriptive knowledge
1328:Feminist epistemology
1268:Nicholas Wolterstorff
263:philosophy of science
16:State of being simple
1527:Procedural knowledge
1512:Problem of induction
935:Scott, Brian(1996) "
891:Hickey, Rich (2011)
653:. N.J.: Garden City.
619:(Fall 2013 ed.)
579:Baker, Alan (2022),
492:Degree of difficulty
310:syntactic simplicity
139:improve this article
92:improve this article
82:may not represent a
19:For other uses, see
1664:Razors (philosophy)
1605:Virtue epistemology
1600:Social epistemology
1580:Formal epistemology
1467:Epistemic injustice
1462:Exploratory thought
1263:Ludwig Wittgenstein
911:Newton-Smith, W. H.
883:Br. J. Philos. Sci.
567:ecoplexity.org 2009
356:) by more than 10%.
1258:Timothy Williamson
1048:Augustine of Hippo
905:Laws of Simplicity
694:on March 14, 2012.
686:Carly, Chynoweth.
403:St. Thomas Aquinas
382:Tilburg University
1641:
1640:
1507:Privileged access
1143:Søren Kierkegaard
868:
867:
860:
712:on April 25, 2011
522:Simplicity theory
407:infinitely simple
271:divine simplicity
233:
232:
225:
215:
214:
207:
189:
113:
112:
64:
1671:
1585:Metaepistemology
1563:Related articles
1537:Regress argument
1472:Epistemic virtue
1223:Bertrand Russell
1198:Duncan Pritchard
1158:Hilary Kornblith
1073:Laurence BonJour
1020:
1013:
1006:
997:
969:
967:
952:
944:Simon, Herbert A
932:
893:Simple Made Easy
863:
856:
852:
849:
843:
838:this article by
829:inline citations
816:
815:
808:
802:
801:
799:
798:
784:
778:
777:
775:
774:
760:
754:
744:
738:
733:Evmoiridis, I.,
731:
722:
721:
719:
717:
702:
696:
695:
683:
677:
664:
655:
654:
646:
640:
639:
625:
624:
613:Zalta, Edward N.
601:
595:
594:
593:
592:
576:
570:
564:
429:groups like the
328:John von Neumann
244:Herbert A. Simon
228:
221:
210:
203:
199:
196:
190:
188:
147:
123:
115:
108:
105:
99:
75:
74:
67:
56:
34:
33:
26:
1679:
1678:
1674:
1673:
1672:
1670:
1669:
1668:
1644:
1643:
1642:
1637:
1609:
1558:
1477:Gettier problem
1407:
1338:Foundationalism
1284:
1233:Wilfrid Sellars
1188:Alvin Plantinga
1068:George Berkeley
1035:Epistemologists
1029:
1024:
982:
965:
950:
942:
930:
864:
853:
847:
844:
834:Please help to
833:
817:
813:
806:
805:
796:
794:
786:
785:
781:
772:
770:
762:
761:
757:
745:
741:
732:
725:
715:
713:
704:
703:
699:
685:
684:
680:
665:
658:
648:
647:
643:
622:
620:
603:
602:
598:
590:
588:
578:
577:
573:
565:
561:
556:
542:Worse is better
478:
457:
445:
439:
395:
341:
291:
229:
218:
217:
216:
211:
200:
194:
191:
148:
146:
136:
124:
109:
103:
100:
89:
76:
72:
35:
31:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1677:
1675:
1667:
1666:
1661:
1656:
1646:
1645:
1639:
1638:
1636:
1635:
1630:
1625:
1620:
1614:
1611:
1610:
1608:
1607:
1602:
1597:
1592:
1587:
1582:
1577:
1572:
1566:
1564:
1560:
1559:
1557:
1556:
1549:
1544:
1539:
1534:
1529:
1524:
1519:
1514:
1509:
1504:
1499:
1494:
1489:
1484:
1479:
1474:
1469:
1464:
1459:
1454:
1449:
1444:
1439:
1434:
1426:
1417:
1415:
1409:
1408:
1406:
1405:
1400:
1395:
1390:
1385:
1380:
1375:
1370:
1365:
1360:
1355:
1350:
1345:
1340:
1335:
1330:
1325:
1320:
1315:
1310:
1305:
1303:Constructivism
1300:
1294:
1292:
1286:
1285:
1283:
1282:
1275:
1270:
1265:
1260:
1255:
1253:Baruch Spinoza
1250:
1248:P. F. Strawson
1245:
1240:
1238:Susanna Siegel
1235:
1230:
1225:
1220:
1215:
1213:W. V. O. Quine
1210:
1205:
1200:
1195:
1190:
1185:
1180:
1175:
1170:
1165:
1160:
1155:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1113:Nelson Goodman
1110:
1105:
1103:Edmund Gettier
1100:
1095:
1090:
1088:René Descartes
1085:
1080:
1078:Gilles Deleuze
1075:
1070:
1065:
1060:
1055:
1053:William Alston
1050:
1045:
1043:Thomas Aquinas
1039:
1037:
1031:
1030:
1025:
1023:
1022:
1015:
1008:
1000:
994:
993:
988:
981:
980:External links
978:
977:
976:
973:
970:
968:on 2009-03-10.
940:
933:
924:
921:
914:
908:
898:
895:
889:
886:
875:
872:
866:
865:
820:
818:
811:
804:
803:
779:
755:
739:
723:
697:
678:
666:Ashkenas, R.,
656:
641:
607:(2010-02-25).
596:
571:
569:, p. 481.
558:
557:
555:
552:
551:
550:
544:
539:
534:
529:
524:
519:
514:
509:
504:
502:KISS principle
499:
494:
489:
484:
477:
474:
456:
453:
441:Main article:
438:
435:
394:
391:
340:
337:
324:respectively.
290:
287:
231:
230:
213:
212:
127:
125:
118:
111:
110:
86:of the subject
79:
77:
70:
65:
39:
38:
36:
29:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1676:
1665:
1662:
1660:
1659:Simple living
1657:
1655:
1652:
1651:
1649:
1634:
1631:
1629:
1626:
1624:
1621:
1619:
1616:
1615:
1612:
1606:
1603:
1601:
1598:
1596:
1593:
1591:
1588:
1586:
1583:
1581:
1578:
1576:
1573:
1571:
1568:
1567:
1565:
1561:
1555:
1554:
1550:
1548:
1545:
1543:
1540:
1538:
1535:
1533:
1530:
1528:
1525:
1523:
1520:
1518:
1515:
1513:
1510:
1508:
1505:
1503:
1500:
1498:
1495:
1493:
1492:Justification
1490:
1488:
1485:
1483:
1480:
1478:
1475:
1473:
1470:
1468:
1465:
1463:
1460:
1458:
1455:
1453:
1450:
1448:
1445:
1443:
1440:
1438:
1435:
1433:
1431:
1427:
1425:
1423:
1419:
1418:
1416:
1414:
1410:
1404:
1401:
1399:
1396:
1394:
1391:
1389:
1386:
1384:
1381:
1379:
1376:
1374:
1371:
1369:
1368:Phenomenalism
1366:
1364:
1361:
1359:
1358:Naïve realism
1356:
1354:
1351:
1349:
1346:
1344:
1341:
1339:
1336:
1334:
1331:
1329:
1326:
1324:
1321:
1319:
1316:
1314:
1311:
1309:
1308:Contextualism
1306:
1304:
1301:
1299:
1296:
1295:
1293:
1291:
1287:
1281:
1280:
1276:
1274:
1273:Vienna Circle
1271:
1269:
1266:
1264:
1261:
1259:
1256:
1254:
1251:
1249:
1246:
1244:
1241:
1239:
1236:
1234:
1231:
1229:
1226:
1224:
1221:
1219:
1216:
1214:
1211:
1209:
1208:Hilary Putnam
1206:
1204:
1201:
1199:
1196:
1194:
1191:
1189:
1186:
1184:
1183:Robert Nozick
1181:
1179:
1178:John McDowell
1176:
1174:
1171:
1169:
1166:
1164:
1161:
1159:
1156:
1154:
1151:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1138:Immanuel Kant
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1108:Alvin Goldman
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1094:
1091:
1089:
1086:
1084:
1081:
1079:
1076:
1074:
1071:
1069:
1066:
1064:
1061:
1059:
1056:
1054:
1051:
1049:
1046:
1044:
1041:
1040:
1038:
1036:
1032:
1028:
1021:
1016:
1014:
1009:
1007:
1002:
1001:
998:
992:
989:
987:
984:
983:
979:
974:
971:
964:
960:
956:
949:
945:
941:
938:
934:
929:
925:
922:
919:
915:
912:
909:
906:
902:
899:
896:
894:
890:
887:
884:
880:
876:
873:
870:
869:
862:
859:
851:
841:
837:
831:
830:
824:
819:
810:
809:
793:
792:www.bbc.co.uk
789:
783:
780:
769:
765:
759:
756:
752:
748:
747:Siegel + Gale
743:
740:
736:
730:
728:
724:
711:
707:
701:
698:
693:
689:
682:
679:
675:
674:
669:
663:
661:
657:
652:
645:
642:
638:
636:
632:
618:
614:
610:
606:
600:
597:
586:
582:
575:
572:
568:
563:
560:
553:
548:
545:
543:
540:
538:
535:
533:
530:
528:
525:
523:
520:
518:
517:Simple living
515:
513:
512:Occam's razor
510:
508:
505:
503:
500:
498:
495:
493:
490:
488:
485:
483:
480:
479:
475:
473:
472:
471:Coen Brothers
468:
467:
466:A Serious Man
462:
454:
452:
450:
444:
443:Simple living
436:
434:
432:
428:
424:
420:
416:
412:
408:
404:
400:
392:
390:
388:
383:
378:
376:
371:
366:
364:
357:
355:
348:
346:
338:
335:
331:
329:
325:
323:
319:
315:
311:
306:
304:
300:
299:Occam's razor
297:According to
295:
288:
286:
284:
280:
279:simple living
276:
272:
268:
267:Occam's razor
264:
260:
255:
253:
249:
245:
241:
237:
227:
224:
209:
206:
198:
187:
184:
180:
177:
173:
170:
166:
163:
159:
156: –
155:
151:
150:Find sources:
144:
140:
134:
133:
128:This article
126:
122:
117:
116:
107:
97:
93:
87:
85:
78:
69:
68:
63:
61:
54:
53:
48:
47:
42:
37:
28:
27:
22:
1551:
1541:
1452:Common sense
1430:A posteriori
1429:
1421:
1383:Reductionism
1277:
1228:Gilbert Ryle
1098:Fred Dretske
1083:Keith DeRose
1027:Epistemology
963:the original
958:
954:
854:
845:
826:
795:. Retrieved
791:
782:
771:. Retrieved
767:
758:
742:
714:. Retrieved
710:the original
700:
692:the original
681:
671:
650:
644:
634:
630:
627:
621:. Retrieved
616:
609:"Simplicity"
599:
589:, retrieved
584:
581:"Simplicity"
574:
562:
464:
458:
446:
396:
379:
369:
367:
362:
359:
350:
342:
333:
326:
307:
302:
296:
292:
259:epistemology
256:
235:
234:
219:
201:
192:
182:
175:
168:
161:
154:"Simplicity"
149:
137:Please help
132:verification
129:
101:
81:
57:
50:
44:
43:Please help
40:
1654:Abstraction
1532:Proposition
1502:Objectivity
1388:Reliabilism
1378:Rationalism
1323:Fallibilism
1298:Coherentism
1243:Ernest Sosa
1218:Thomas Reid
1203:James Pryor
1173:G. E. Moore
1163:David Lewis
1153:Saul Kripke
1148:Peter Klein
1128:Susan Haack
1058:Robert Audi
931:(in German)
907:, MIT Press
840:introducing
605:Baker, Alan
411:Franciscans
393:In religion
339:In business
273:. In human
1648:Categories
1633:Discussion
1623:Task Force
1542:Simplicity
1522:Perception
1398:Skepticism
1373:Positivism
1348:Infinitism
1313:Empiricism
1168:John Locke
1133:David Hume
1123:Anil Gupta
1118:Paul Grice
1093:John Dewey
1063:A. J. Ayer
823:references
797:2019-10-26
773:2017-12-07
623:2015-04-26
591:2023-04-05
554:References
547:John Maeda
507:Minimalism
487:Complexity
427:Anabaptist
275:lifestyles
265:(e.g., in
236:Simplicity
195:April 2018
165:newspapers
104:April 2018
46:improve it
1497:Knowledge
1482:Induction
1432:knowledge
1424:knowledge
928:PDF, 37MB
903:, (2006)
901:Maeda, J.
848:July 2010
635:parsimony
482:Concision
455:Citations
449:lifestyle
437:Lifestyle
431:Bruderhof
405:, God is
399:Christian
322:parsimony
283:simpleton
96:talk page
84:full view
52:talk page
1618:Category
1437:Analysis
1422:A priori
1413:Concepts
1353:Innatism
1290:Theories
946:(1962).
631:elegance
497:Elegance
476:See also
469:(2009),
387:leverage
318:elegance
303:simplest
1553:more...
1333:Fideism
1279:more...
836:improve
615:(ed.).
248:complex
179:scholar
90:Please
1447:Belief
1343:Holism
825:, but
716:13 May
354:EBITDA
252:beauty
240:simple
181:
174:
167:
160:
152:
1628:Stubs
1547:Truth
1193:Plato
966:(PDF)
951:(PDF)
611:. In
461:Rashi
375:brand
186:JSTOR
172:books
718:2011
633:and
423:life
368:The
320:and
261:and
158:news
959:106
881:",
141:by
1650::
957:.
953:.
790:.
766:.
749:,
726:^
670:,
659:^
626:.
389:.
285:.
55:.
1019:e
1012:t
1005:v
861:)
855:(
850:)
846:(
832:.
800:.
776:.
720:.
373:"
352:(
226:)
220:(
208:)
202:(
197:)
193:(
183:·
176:·
169:·
162:·
135:.
106:)
102:(
98:.
88:.
62:)
58:(
23:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
