Quote by Howard Pattee
Sufficiently simple natural structures are predictable but uncontrollable, whereas sufficiently complex symbolic descriptions are controllable but unpredictable.
Summary
This quote highlights the trade-off between simplicity and complexity in understanding natural phenomena and symbolic representations. It suggests that simple natural structures, such as simple physical processes or patterns in nature, may be predictable but difficult to control. On the other hand, complex symbolic descriptions, such as abstract models or algorithms, can offer control but are often difficult to predict and fully understand. Essentially, there is a dichotomy between predictability and controllability, with simplicity leaning towards predictability and complexity favoring controllability in different contexts.
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