4 ms·
Once you accept that a model of reality is always somewhat incorrect you kind of stop seeing this as "lies". Reality is infinitely complex, a model however is f
by alexey-salmin 2y ago
Once you accept that a model of reality is always somewhat incorrect you kind of stop seeing this as "lies". Reality is infinitely complex, a model however is finite and therefore understandable.
We value models for their simplicity, for their ability to disregard secondary and tertiary details to allow comprehension and prediction of primary effects.
Then the only question is: which level of the simplicity/correctness trade-off is appropriate in given circumstances? When teaching kids or even a non-professional adults, the appropriate level is often very heavy on the "simplicity" side. Adding more complexity results in less overall understanding, so a net-negative effect in the end.
- Tostino 2y agoI think the problem comes in when you have adults teaching kids a simplified model who don't actually understand that is what they are doing. It is not always conveyed well that they are learning a simplified model, or using an analogy. That's when kids feel lied to.
- MyOutfitIsVague 2y agoThere are very many pithy sayings to this effect, most famously "All models are wrong, but some are useful" (perhaps by George Box, but I can't find this exact phrase attributed to him) Even Von Neumann said "truth is much too complicated to allow anything but approximations."