March 21, 2008

Complexity and Clarity

To the Editor:

Russell Jacoby makes some interesting points in his essay on binaries ("Not to Complicate Matters, but…," The Chronicle Review, February 29). However, aren't there times when showing the real complexity of an issue clarifies it, even while making it harder to understand?

Some of Professor Jacoby's examples are trivial (red light or green; having $3.75 for coffee or not). The computer example is mischievous, as the binary logic of computers is what makes