The trap of simplification lies in its ability to create an impression of having understood something complex. At the same time, that’s what simplification is for: making something easier to understand.

Simplification happens by following strict rules allowing one to go to the heart of a matter to understand it. It means to remove anything superfluous and redundant to one’s understanding of whatever it is that is at the heart of that complex subject.

Once one understands the heart of the matter a new approach becomes possible. It becomes the work to expand one’s understanding of the subject. It happens by reintegrating whatever has been removed in the process of simplification. Gradually doing this enables us to understand the complexity of that subject.

The understanding of the complexity is what enables one to choose an approach when facing that subject. Understanding grows gradually as one interacts with the subject and learns to develop some mastery.

But when one falls into the trap of assuming understanding, it is as if one believes to have the silver bullet. Believing in a silver bullet is the assumption that one has a response to whatever problem appears. It is guided by the assumption that a right and possibly perfect solution is available and that one only needs to find it.