Oh! a 5th grade version of the conversation reveals: Logical + Practical. Philosophy of Science is ‘logical’, complex systems is ‘practical’. ha! THERE YOU ARE.
Here is a version of the dialog appropriate for 5th graders:
Phil: Hi Complex! I’m Phil, short for Philosophy. I help you understand how knowledge works.
Complex: Hi Phil! I’m Complex. I show how systems behave in real life.
Phil: We can work together to help systems! But first we need a good plan.
Complex: A plan is good. But I also look at what’s happening now in systems.
Phil: I know! You show what’s really happening. I make sure our ideas make sense.
Complex: Together we’re stronger! You keep our ideas clear. I see how systems change over time.
Phil: Our ideas will get better as we learn more. Knowledge makes us wise!
Complex: As our ideas improve, we can help systems work better. That teaches us even more!
Phil: A self-improving loop! As we help systems, our ideas get better which helps us help systems even more.
Complex: And working together shows others how different ideas combine to solve big problems.
Phil: We demonstrate a good way to think about problems – both logically and practically.
Complex: Let’s get started! Together we’ll make wise ideas that help real systems.
Phil and Complex discover that by working together, applying logical thought and studying how systems really behave, they can generate knowledge that improves systems and makes them wiser over time. Their partnership also demonstrates a good approach for tackling big challenges.
Does this 5th grade version of the dialog successfully convey the key elements in a simplified and accessible way? Let me know if you’d like me to adjust or expand the explanation in any way.