What is simple?

Living process, in its very nature, may, in a certain special sense, be called deeply simple — that it may be characterized by the idea that it is the simplest process which exists in any given set of circumstances. What has appeared all along, the idea that complexity is a manifestation of deeper, more intricate structure created by structure-preserving unfolding, may be understood better yet when we appreciate that it is always the simplest step which governs: And that the drive provided by the [simplicity and inner calm] transformation is, necessarily, at the very root of living process.

The things we call simple in design — cubes, spheres — appear simple conceptually because they can be represented by simple mathematical schemes. But they are not, in any real sense, the simplest things which can be created at a given place and time.
The simplest thing which can be created, in real terms, is that thing which goes furthest to resolve, complete, hence to elaborate and underpin the structure of the world, its wholeness, which exists at that place.
In this sense a volcano, a cobweb, an oak tree are truly more simple… because as nearly as we can judge, they perfectly resolve the forces, processes and conditions at that place, with the greatest economy of means and the greatest economy of form.

For software it is essential to figure out, what these phrases could mean in the context of software: - perfectly resolve - forces - processes - conditions - with greatest economy of - means - form A first step to figure that out should probably be to review what exactly they mean in the context of architecture…

It is for this reason that the simplest forms (“simplest” in this organic and complex sense) must be our targets in any conscious, human-inspired, human-engineered process which aspires to the production of living structure. A process which purports to be a living one, but fails to create beautiful and living simplicity in the physical form it generates, must have something wrong with it.
Stated again: the thing which matters most about a living process is — quite simply — that it produces beautiful and coherent geometrical order. That is not only the necessary result of a living process. It is also the talisman by which we may know whether a given process is truly living or not. If it is a living process, it will create beautiful geometric structure. If it does not create beautiful structure, it can not truly be a living process. Thus the creation of coherent, beautiful, simple geometry and form is not merely an incidental offshoot from the living process. It is the essence of any living process.
This gives geometry and beauty — and simplicity above all — a special and central role.

#book/The Nature of Order/2 The process of creating life/17 Simplicity#