3 ms·
I don't like the title. Complex dynamics often require simple solutions. E.g., a complex chaotic system can often be made simple by adding damping (a simple sol
by LeroyRaz 2y ago
I don't like the title. Complex dynamics often require simple solutions. E.g., a complex chaotic system can often be made simple by adding damping (a simple solution).
- aabhay 2y agoWhile I agree with your view point, I think the celebrity mathematician status of Terrence Tao made it obvious to me that the title was referring to mathematical solutions e.g. solving a system of equations.
- LeroyRaz 2y agoI read him as implicitly opining on the "solving" of political or economic systems. In doing so, he is making a false analogy. The analogy fails because the "solution" to a real world problem does not require solving the problem in a mathematical sense (i.e., fully tracing and analytically understanding the system) but rather intervening to make the problem go away. For example, imagine your boss is harassing you. Terrance Tao says, ah, that is a complex system (two people interacting) as such we need a complex solution (a deep understanding of what lead to this occurrence, e.g., do you remind your boss of their unhappy childhood?) but the actual real world solution can be simple, e.g., change job.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- tlb 2y agoYou can make systems less chaotic with damping, but that's not always good. A damped 3-body problem (orbiting planets under gravity) results in the planets losing momentum until they all smash together. If you have an active control system like for controlling a robot arm, adding damping in the wrong place can make oscillations worse.