The simple life

The idea of "the simple life" is at the root of the Piers philosophy. It may mean different things to different people at different times: a bucolic ideal of "getting away from it all" which may turn out to be very different from the realities of country living; a retreat from the complexities of modern urban life; a new way of associating with one another on a more honest, "natural" basis. The Piers view combines these approaches and several others, and is described, as often is the case on these pages, in the form of a list of ten principles:
  1. Avoid a complicated explanation for things when a simple one will do.
    Another way of expressing the medieval wisdom contained in the maxim known as "William of Ockham's razor" - "It is vain to do with more what can be done with fewer". In Russell's terms, if everything in some science can be interpreted without assuming this or that hypothetical entity, there is no ground for assuming it ("I have myself found this a most fruitful principle in logical analysis", he said).
  2. Avoid writing any prose more than 2 sides long.
    In this respect the simple life is perfectly adapted to the modern age of sound-bites and hypertext. Great truths are simple truths (though not all simple truths are great) - and simple truths can be simply expressed, simply absorbed, simply understood.
  3. Avoid complicated domestic equipment when simple tools will do the same job.
    I've nothing against the manufacturers of kitchen equipment, but I can't help wondering how much of it is really necessary - I can squeeze an orange or open a can quite easily without needing a device that needs to be connected to the electricity mains. And some of these food choppers need so much setting up, dismantling and cleaning - even with a large household I think you can do better with two different-sized sharp knives!
  4. Keep your wardrobe small - avoid events where anything other than ordinary clothing is required.
  5. Avoid doing anything which has to be kept secret from others.
    This has applications both in the business world (in fact there may be a problem there, in that a certain amount of secrecy and plotting has become so much part of the commercial environment that it may be difficult to secure or maintain a post in any but the most menial employment if you insist on taking this principle too literally!) and in private life - indeed the relationship with your partner may be permanently scarred whenever you find yourself involved in something which he/she must not know about - and secrecy tends to breed secrecy, so in the end you have a nightmare remembering what you have said to whom, and the truth will out anyway. Exceptions of course in the case of preparations for birthday celebrations and other similar surprises.
  6. Look for simple entertainments not requiring a lot of technical artefacts.
    The march of technology has led to a domestic scene consisting of different members of the family in separate parts of the house all playing games with some sort of electronic equipment. Notwithstanding the example of Deep Blue (the electronic chess champion), human beings are still the best opponents - more fun, you can have a good laugh, and they react in a human way to winning or losing.
  7. Enjoy all the beauty that nature has to offer - a sunrise, a garden washed by a light shower, fruit plucked from the tree, etc.
  8. Don't travel miles for something when something similar is available just round the corner.
    Sometimes we don't even see the things in the immediate vicinity. How many of us have visited our local museum or botanic garden, whereas holidaymakers calling at our town make them the first port of call, as we do when staying in their part of the world? Two minutes walk from our house is a little park with a pond, ducks and geese. Whilst taking our grandchildren for a walk there, I often wonder why I should ever go farther to look for natural beauty?
  9. Don't become obsessed by the need always to obtain economic advantage.
    Shopping is so much simpler if it's not cluttered up with little stamps, customer cards, reduced price vouchers and the need to keep a constant check on which items are the cheapest in which shops. But at a higher level, it can become an obsession to get the best deal out of an international funds transfer, or to obtain the maximum allowance on your income tax. If you find yourself buying expensive goods or making unnecessary journeys, solely on the grounds that they are tax-deductible, then you are letting the tax man run your life!
  10. Rely on your intuition rather than on the example of colleagues, neighbours etc.
    There's no need to follow the crowd in choosing the latest fashion in furniture, clothing, transportation or holiday destination. Something fashionable one minute will become equally unfashionable the next. Choose instead simple items with a value that transcends time.

    PIERS
    Clement

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