It's more complicated than that
Science isn’t just about easy answers! Jim Al-Khalili says real life is messy and sometimes the truth is a puzzle. Science helps us dig deeper and figure out what’s really going on ( even when things get tricky ).
(p. 51-64)
Straight to the point
People love simple explanations, but Al-Khalili shows that sometimes the real answer is more complex. He introduces Ockham’s razor (the idea that the simplest explanation is often best) but warns us that it’s not always correct.
For example: scientists once thought the Sun moved around the Earth because it looked simple, but the truth was more complicated: the Earth moves around the Sun.
Einstein made gravity more complicated too: he showed it’s about bending space and time, not just things falling down.
you can dig deeper in pages: 53: "…Both the Earth-centred and Sun-centred models... modern astronomy that the true dynamics of the Solar System…" 55: “The lesson here is that the simplest explanation... because it is simpler or because it has fewer assumptions.”
EXAMPLES
Book
Al-Khalili explains that the old idea of the Sun moving around the Earth was simple, but wrong. The real explanation: that the Earth moves around the Sun, is more complicated, but it fits the facts better. (P.58)
Real life
When I first started horse riding, I thought being good just meant staying balanced and not falling off. But now I know it’s much more complicated: I need to understand my horse’s mood, use the right body posture, coordinate my hands, legs, feet as well as my core, and I learned how to communicate clearly. Even things like saddle fit and weather make a difference! Just like the Solar System isn’t as simple as ancient scientists thought, horse riding is full of hidden skills and details that all have to work together if I want to improve. Therefore, Simple answers don’t work. I have to see the whole, complex picture to really get better.
Points from The book
evidence over simplicity
The simplest explanation is not always right. (p.55)
reject unnecessary assumptions but don't oversimplify
Ockham’s razor should only be applied to reject unnecessary assumptions, not to simplify beyond what is reasonable. (p.55)
Science revises beliefs when facts show the world is messier
Dig a little deeper, you will be rewarded. (p.64)
accept real explanations can be messy + test ideas against evidence
...the real Solar System is more complicated than people thought. (p.53-54)
Bottom line
Chapter 2 teaches us:
Don’t settle for the first simple answer.
The real world is often more complicated and science helps us understand that complexity. Sometimes, “it’s more complicated than that” is the best answer!