"Less is more" and the art of modeling complex phenomena: Simplification may but need not be the key to handle large networks

In the October 21, 2005 issue of the magazine ‘Science’ a perspectives article by Stefan Bornholdt addresses the problem of the proper level of details in the description of complex systems [1]. ‘Less is more’ is used in this article to encourage the usage of highly simplified dynamical elements for modeling large and complex nonlinear systems. The special case considered is modeling of large genetic networks, but the problem is much more general, arises often in science and beyond and, perhaps, deserves broader attention. Some older examples of ‘less is more’ that have reached already a certain degree of maturity and common acceptance may be useful with respect to the recent revival of this paradigm. I shall present here two different problems from the interface of physics and chemistry, which were heavily debated in the past and for which consensus has been achieved by now, before returning to the burning biological questions.