1 I agree with Alfred North Whitehead idea that a people should seek simplicity and distrust it.

However, this statement can have different meanings which exemplify different problems with simplicity. One should distrust simplicity because it hinders a knowers knowledge and doesnt allow for complex thought, which is very important to a knower because a true knower cannot reach his potential by solely examining simple information. But also, a knower should distrust simplicity because there is always a simple version of a problem or piece of information. As a result, a knower must question the reliability of the information, not in terms accuracy, but in how simple it is. The act of seeking simplicity increases a knowers knowledge because he must look at a piece of information and examine the different aspects of it. A knower must fully understand something if he is to simplify it because the simplified version must encompass the advanced version as well. A problem with information that is simple, or complex information that is simplified, is that it can be skewed and used in improper ways. Many times, this leads to the loss of the original meaning of a piece of information. Unlike the sciences, where simple information is meant to be applied to many theories and used in conjunction with other ideas in mathematics and science, politics and history do not follow this principle. In fact, when simple information is applied to history or politics it can have detrimental effects. This is the case with Charles Darwins ideas about evolution and survival of the fittest. Darwins theory was that animal species with certain, favorable traits would live on and procreate, while the lesser species will die out. However, people have skewed Darwins ideas to make them fit their own, sometimes racist, views. During WWI, Darwins ideas were applied to whole nations, instead of species of animals. This led people to believe that they were superior to other nations and would, without a doubt, become superior, and even that they had the right to rule. As a result, nations started

2 fighting for this right to rule and would go to drastic measures in order to achieve it. These nations became foolish because they thought they were unstoppable and used Darwins ideas as support. This led to soldiers running in the open and into bullet fire believing they would survive because they were extraordinarily superior that they could not be harmed, due to their enemys inferiority (Eissler). Because people skewed Darwins original ideas to fit their own beliefs WWI experienced massive but avoidable deaths. Another consequence of skewing Darwins ideas is that the original meaning was lost. This actually impairs peoples knowledge because a knower does not learn the true meaning of Darwins work. Unlike history, where information can be skewed to fit individual beliefs and ideas, simple scientific information cant be skewed, but instead has many applications. These simple ideas, once applied to theories and expanded, open up vast areas of knowledge and have many benefits and opportunities for knowers. However, this supports Whiteheads quote because the information that a knower thought to be simple turns out to be very complicated. This is evident in the research of atoms. Scientists believed that atoms were the fundamental particles (Gouva) and this theory worked very well for many theories. However, as technology advanced it proved that the atom is made up of many other particles. Einstein used Newtons three basic laws and related them to the atom. He found that an atom could be split and the true structure was found. This shows how simplicity should be distrusted, but not for the reliability of the information itself, but for the extent of the simplicity. When a knower seeks the absolute simplicity of a piece of information, he must learn about the reasons why the previous information isnt simplistic. In order to disprove an established piece of information, one must have a profound knowledge of the subject. Just as Einstein proved that an atom could be broken down even further to smaller parts, he had to explain his new findings as well as the implications

3 of his new findings. The process of disproving the previous knowledge and explaining his new finding expanded his knowledge on atoms. This is why a knower should seek simplicity. There are benefits to simplicity in information that cannot be applied to other theories or ideas and can that even spread knowledge. This is prominent in language. When learning a new language a knower must start with the most syntax and diction. People start with very simple and basic words and sentence structure. These basic rules cannot be skewed and applied to other theories, but are simple and concrete. From childhood the easiest and most productive way to help a child learn to read was by giving him books with easy words and colorful pictures. Parents usually do not give four year olds Moby Dick to read in order to learn. Instead, parents give children a copy of The Hungry Hungry Caterpillar, which has basic syntax and diction that allows the reader to easily understand the story as well as the meaning. This allows children to build simple knowledge and eventually excel to a higher understanding. Morality, manners, and life lessons are taught in a similar manner. Children are taught morality, manners, and life lessons through simple books and stories. The Tortoise and the Hare teaches children to take one step at a time, dont always rush, and slow and steady wins the race. In this case, simplicity is profoundly effective and useful for a knower. This basic syntax and diction can have profound impact on a new knower and open up various aspect of knowledge. Simplicity is also the way in which knowledge is spread throughout the world, from knower to knower. However, there is a problem with spreading knowledge by using simple information because simplicity is very subjective. While studying poetry in my English class, I had difficulty learning how to find the rhythm in a poem. My friend tried to help me by explaining to me the unstressed-stressed rhythm of iambic pentameter, but I could not hear it on my own. I finally asked my teacher and she gave me a very simple poem which had a very

4 noticeable rhythm and was two quatrains. After reading the poem a number of times, I finally started to hear the rhythm, but I was not confident that I could notice rhythm. I went to my teacher again and she gave me an even simpler poem with even more noticeable rhythm. After my fifth time reading the poem I finally understood the iambic rhythm of the poem. The combination of the simple poem and the simple foot tapping allowed me to understand the rhythm of poetry. However, I was only reading poetry in iambic pentameter, once I read a poem in trochaic rhythm I was lost again. This just shows that simplicity can help a knower learn, but there is always more information and something is rarely at its simplest form. I have heard about the KISS principle (keep it simple, stupid) throughout high school. And I believe it is important to keep things as simple as possible. However, some things are just too complex to be simplified. Some people try to simplify ideas or information and make it simpler than it really is because they want it to be that way. Anything can be made to appear simple just by refusing to see the complexities. Simplicity, defined as a state of low complexity, is often seen as inadequate to use in scholarly situations. Even though simplistic information is seen as basic and, many times, unscholarly, it is the basis of most knowledge. To take a piece of information and seek its most simple form requires an extraordinary amount of work. A knower must learn why a piece of information is in its simplest form and to do this a knower must learn why it is not simplistic. Simplicity should also be distrusted because of its vagueness. A piece of simple information doesnt often give all the necessary information need for a knower to increase his knowledge. There are times when a knower knows very well what he has to do. It is a very simple decision, but convincing himself to do it may be not so simple. Emotions and feelings can be complex and may complicate a situation even if the issue itself is simple. A knower should always seek simplicity and distrust it because in the end, it will lead to a better understanding

5 of the information and a more knowledgeable knower. Word Count: 1439

Works Cited

6 Eissler, Robert. Origins of World War One. IB Contemporary History Seminole High School, Sanford. 20 Dec. 2008 Gouva, Andr. "BIG IDEAS, SMALL PARTICLES." http://scienceinsociety.northwestern.edu. 08 Nov 2008. NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY. 10 Feb 2009 <http://scienceinsociety.northwestern.edu/content/articles/2008/tait/big-ideas-smallparticles>.