Simplicity - what does it mean? On the one hand, the word is familiar and understandable, and on the other hand, it has many shades of meaning. What are they? We will talk about this, as well as what is the essence of simplicity, in our discussion today.
Dictionary definition
According to one dictionary definition, simplicity is:
- Property of an object or phenomenon corresponding to the adjective "simple". The following is said about the meanings of this adjective:
- Accessible, not requiring a lot of effort and time in understanding, performing, describing and solving (Today the students were given an extremely simple task).
- The one that does not stand out among others, but is standard, typical, ordinary. (This girl had a simple but open and pretty face.)
- Inexpensive, no additional features, accessories, options, as well as spices, ingredients and additional production steps. (Eugene, having a considerable income, preferred food that was hearty, but rather simple).
- Not belonging toprivileged sections of society, not possessing power, not rich. (Despite his exquisite appearance and bright appearance, it was possible to determine from Alexander's conversation that he comes from a simple family).
- Colloquial - about a person who is easy in relationships, in communication, who is open, unsophisticated and unforgiving. (Ease of dealing with women was very attractive to them in this man.)
- Colloquial - about a stupid, naive and too trusting person. (Natasha's credulity can be characterized by the proverb "Simplicity is worse than theft")
Thus, based on these definitions, we can say that in the generalized meaning of "simplicity" is the absence of any complexity in a person, phenomenon or object. (The current generation is characterized by a lack of desire for simplicity of life.)
Origin
The origin of the word "simplicity" comes from the adjective "simple", the path of which into the Russian language begins in Proto-Slavic (prost), from which, in particular, originated:
- Old Russian "prost" (simple, open, direct, free);
- Old Church Slavonic "prost" (simple);
- Bulgarian "prost" (plain, straight);
- Serbo-Croatian "prȍst" (simple, ingenuous, forgiven);
- Slovenian "pròst" (simple, free, laid-back, ordinary).
Synonyms
Many synonyms for the word "simplicity" are, for example,
- Easy.
- Stupidity.
- Modesty.
- Innocence.
- Innocence.
- Naivety.
- Easy.
- Spontaneity.
- Natural.
- Availability.
- Looseness.
- Democratic.
- Primitiveness.
- Mediocre.
- Naturality.
- Rustic.
- Unpretentious.
- Ingenuousness.
- Integrity.
Phraseologisms
Let's give a number of phraseological units and stable phrases with the words "simplicity" and "simple", which, like synonyms, are quite numerous.
- Easy dressing.
- Ease of getting around.
- Ease of life.
- Ease of manners.
- Easy to operate the machine.
- Ease of solution.
- Ease of use.
- Holy simplicity.
- For the simplicity of the soul.
- Prime number.
- Simple pencil.
- The easy way.
- A simple substance.
- Simple cycle.
Sayings
And there are many sayings related to simplicity, the meaning of some of them is as follows:
- The advantage of simplicity is to achieve the maximum effect with a minimum of means. (C. Cavanagh).
- You need to keep things as simple as possible, but not simpler. (A. Einstein).
- Beauty, simplicity and truth always go together, so the truth can always be recognized by its simplicity and beauty. (R. Feynman).
- Our life is completely littereddetails: simpler, simpler. (G. Toro).
- What is hard to describe is hard to use. (Unknown).
Essentialism. The Path to Simplicity
Under this title, in 2014, a book by Greg McKeon, a writer and business coach, a specialist in essentialism, was published. Recall that this concept means a philosophical and theoretical setting, a concept, the characteristics of which are as follows. She says that things have an unchanging set of properties and qualities, a certain true nature, a deep reality. At the same time, it is impossible to see it directly, and it is this hidden essence that is important for a person.
McKeon is an author of books on business, design and leadership, and holds a Bachelor of Communications degree and an MBA. He wrote a book about the path to simplicity for those people who are mired in everyday hustle and bustle, who lack time for the most important things. He offers a new approach to a way out of such a situation (essentialist), which, in his opinion, will allow a person to do less, do better, and in many areas of his life.
In his book, the author explains in detail the essence of essentialism, suggests that one should not be scattered over many activities, but should focus on the main thing. He tells you how to choose this main thing, and how best to do it.
Occam's Razor
The most directly related to simplicity, to simplification has a methodological principle called "Occam's razor". He bears the nameEnglish Franciscan monk (13-14 centuries), philosopher, William of Ockham (Surrey in southern England). Occam himself formulated this principle approximately as follows.
He said, "What can be done with fewer assumptions should not be done with more." In a nutshell, this principle reads: “It is not necessary to multiply things unnecessarily.”
Modern understanding
Modern science under Occam's razor, as a rule, understands the general principle that states that if there are several explanations of a phenomenon - logically consistent and equally successful in explaining it - then the shortest of all should be considered correct. In this case, a reservation is always made: ceteris paribus.
The content of this wording boils down to the fact that in order to explain any new phenomenon, one should not introduce previously unknown laws if this phenomenon is subject to an exhaustive explanation by old principles. Thus, the fundamental essence of Occam's razor favors simplicity of formulation.
In this case, it is necessary to pay attention to such turns used above as: “equally successful”, “ceteris paribus” and “exhaustive”. A simple explanation is preferred only in the situation when it sheds light on any object or person no less accurately than a more complex one. And at the same time, the entire array of observations available at the moment is taken into account. That is - if there are no objective reasons for preferring a simple explanation morecomplex.
As one of the most famous examples of the use of the described principle is the following. Emperor Napoleon asked the physicist and mathematician Laplace a question about his theory explaining the origin of the solar system. Napoleon asked why the scientist in his work did not mention God even once, while Lagrange constantly repeats his name. To this, Laplace said that he did not need such a hypothesis.
