"The world is far more complicated than you think it is"

[SS-18 ICBM]

If you agree, are you taking any steps to make sense of it all or have you just given up on the endeavour?

If you disagree, what happened that gave you a clear understanding of how the world works? Have you applied this knowledge successfully in many situations?

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I disagree. However exactly because I don't assume to understand the world. I presume to partially understand bits and peaces of it. But to presume to understand the world IMO exactly means that one hasn't grasped its complexity yet. To acknowledge that means to acknowledge a lack of understanding and knowledge. It's a jungle out there. A mindless chaos. Which by definition means that it does not lend itself to mindful order. I.e. understanding

 

[Kyriakos]

First things first: to deem something as complicated one needs to be able to deem at all, and then have something to juxtapose his sense of being with.

So it would seem that from the onset of being conscious we can only examine our own being, using myriads of phenomena around.

As for an answer to your question: i think that things have to be more complicated than we can ever discover, for the same reason that if you want to to keep something inside of a maze you won't ever place an exit there which itself can approach. I mean it may fall in some gap, and keep falling there, but it won't keep existing nearly enough so as to go on after that free-fall.

 

[Oruc]

"The world is far more complicated than you think it is"
It really is that simple.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I disagree. However exactly because I don't assume to understand the world. I presume to partially understand bits and peaces of it. But to presume to understand the world IMO exactly means that one hasn't grasped its complexity yet. To acknowledge that means to acknowledge a lack of understanding and knowledge. It's a jungle out there. A mindless chaos. Which by definition means that it does not lend itself to mindful order. I.e. understanding

It is possible to make estimates and guesses about something you don't fully understand. It's largely how science works after all; to form a hypothesis, test it and then evaluate the conclusions. Simply acknowledging that something is probably more complex than your initial estimate might place it doesn't mean you understand it any more or less than before your acknowledgment.

I acknowledge that the world is probably more complex than I think it is which is how I justify my collection of otherwise useless information.

 

[Hygro]

Even accounting for knowing that it is more complex than the complexity I know, I still believe it more complex than that.

 

[Gori the Grey]

The world couldn't possibly be more complex than I think it is. I think it's inconceivably complex.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

You mean knowing the actual complexity would still surprise you?

Hm... maybe it would me too.

x-post

 

[El_Machinae]

I try to follow the fields that have an iterative mechanism for leading to a greater understanding. I think it's all mostly crackable, we just need time.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Simply acknowledging that something is probably more complex than your initial estimate might place it doesn't mean you understand it any more or less than before your acknowledgment.

I disagree. False trust in ones estimates to me counts as a lack of understanding.

 

[Mise]

I think I have a pretty good handle on how complex it is. I think if I were to magically be imbued with a working knowledge of the world, I'd be like, "yeah, that's about as complicated as I thought it was".

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I try to follow the fields that have an iterative mechanism for leading to a greater understanding. I think it's all mostly crackable, we just need time.

Even if it in principle was - can a single person presume to understand it all? Can any single being fathom the whole complexity of it?

 

[Kyriakos]

I try to follow the fields that have an iterative mechanism for leading to a greater understanding. I think it's all mostly crackable, we just need time.

If one can locate a specific door, he may in end be able to open it. Doesn't have to do with the myriads of other corridors and doors likely being behind it.

Maybe an opened door which allows such a horizon is more likely to intimidate one back to the bit of the building which was secured by the insignificant and original limiting object

 

[hobbsyoyo]

I didn't realize this was a new CFC meme. Wish I hadn't wasted my time with an actual reply!

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

"The world is far more complicated than you think it is"
It really is that simple.

I like it. I'd probably rephrase along the lines of that quote about change and constant things.

I think it's all mostly crackable, we just need time.

I agree.

Even if it in principle was - can a single person presume to understand it all? Can any single being fathom the whole complexity of it?

That's why I want to upload myself into a computer. It would be a nice, very long-term experiment.

Also, thanks for articulating my response, Hobbs.

 

[Borachio]

What world? I've never seen anything resembling a world.

I've seen a few bits of things, which even taken altogether wouldn't ever make a complete world, imo. (Or anywhere near it.) Yet I haven't understood even the littlest bit of the things I have seen.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

No problem SS 18 ICBM

 

[Phrossack]

If I agree that the world is far more complicated than I think it is, it's a bit of a paradox, no?

 

[Borachio]

Look, there's the known knowns, the known unknowns and the unknown unknowns. I think that should clear the paradox up a bit.

Much more interesting for me are the unknown knowns, though: those things that I know, but I don't know I know them.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

I don't think that is necessarily so. It depends on what you actually mean by "think". There are wider and more narrow meanings available. In the most widest sense of "think", I agree it is a paradox.
But in a more narrow meaning of think - it can be the actual idea you have of that complexity. And you can then acknowledge that your idea is insufficient without having an idea how it is insufficient because it is simply beyond your grasp.