A solution should be less complex the more complex the problem is.
I’ve been thinking about this little guideline for weeks now. Its not a moral statement. It is a statement about processing information. I guess I should amend it. If you intend a solution to be successful, it should be demonstrate a simplicity commensurate with the complexity of the problem.
What I mean is that complex solutions work for simple problems, like those in the physical sciences, the kinds of problems faced by engineers. These are well understood systems with known variables. The problems are easy to define and the solutions easily demonstrated, checked, and rechecked. Compare these to the problems faced by social, biological, and ecological scientists, where systems contain numerous causal linkages, and each issue is known to effect other issues in unknown ways.
It comes down to a balance. The complexity of the problem multiplied by the complexity of the solution will yield a value, an index of complexity if you will. I would say the human mind is capable of effortlessly effecting solutions in problem/solution systems up to a given level of complexity, and maybe with diligence and thoughtfulness attain an even higher level. However, at a certain point, a level of complexity is reached where it is impossible to know what you’re doing. Too complicated a solution to too complicated a problem yields a basket of effects and externalities that can not be accurately predicted. It is certain that some of those externalities will be negative.
In this way, even with the best intentions, if you try too hard to solve too big a problem, you’re going to do harm to people in unexpected ways. This is my hands off principle. Its the main reason I’m wary of any policy solution to a global or national level problem. Policy is always a complicated mess, and seems very likely to do more harm than good in response to a complicated problem.
I haven’t said anything in a while but I wanted to get this out.
One Comment
kind of like how in Asteroid if you mash on the acceleration you go warping out of control but if you use slow, calculated bursts you can navigate around the screen successfully dodging debris.
This is a weak analogy; I would disregard it, beyond a certain point. I do like the idea of a physical balance for measuring complexity – pretty sure I’ve hallucinated something like that before.