- It’s 460BC. Your job is a map maker, and your maps show the world to be flat. You’ve a lockup garage of flat earth maps to sell. But you also like astronomy, and understanding the planets.
- Is a model of a flat earth of any use? Is it good? It was good enough for me to get to work, and to drive a cart to London.
- But it’s not good enough for astronomy, you need another model.
- You hear of the model of the earth as a sphere. Hmm, this fits simple astronomy, but does it make your lockup full of flat earth maps worthless? Which model do you believe? How hard is it to change your mind to a new more complicated model?
- Is the model good enough? It’s great when thinking on a global scale – like where is Australia relative to where you are.
- But maybe it’s a bit complicated for driving to London. A flat earth map will be fine for that.
- From the international space station, is the model of the earth as a sphere good enough?
- Maybe not. Gravity may be affected by the shape of the earth, and the movement of planets may need more complicated models. But perhaps you don’t need a model of the earth that shows the Himalayas.
- Is that enough models?
- What if you are cycling to London? A flat earth map won’t show you the hills, but a spherical model with enough detail is far too much information. You like to avoid hills, so you need another model.
Using the examples above, I think we can learn:
- We need models. A model is a synonym for an understanding
- Multiple models of the same thing exist at the same time
- New models should compliment existing ones
- We should use the simplest model we can, but no simpler
- We need awareness of other models
- Believing in one true model is an Anti-Pattern
- If you have an interest in a model being true (like a business selling flat earth maps) it could be hard to learn a new model. The greatest resistance against a new, different model may be those who currently benefit from an existing model.
- All models are wrong, but some are useful. Is the only up-to date model of the earth the earth itself?
This cartoon shows Calvin explaining his simple model to his toy tiger.
This model of how to make toast is sufficient unless:
- Calvin starts to sell toast in his yard and
- He may be asked to contribute towards the electricity bill
- “There is electricity and you have to pay for it?!”
- He may have to buy his own bread
- “Can’t I reuse the bread I just put in somehow?!”
- There is a drought and the price of bread rises
- “So I’m losing money on everything I sell?!”
- He may be asked to contribute towards the electricity bill
Systems Thinkers love models. It’s how we understand the world, and different perspectives and contexts.
We can also see that if you insist on using a simple model, for example one that will fit on a napkin, or can be explained to a 6 year old, then you can only use it in simple situations. More complicated systems need bigger models.
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Reblogged this on Mihir's Musings and commented:
Re-blogging a post from make10louder which I found interesting and relevant.
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