&gt; The only objective measure of simplicity is the size of a formal semantics.<p>If we accept that, then simplicity alone is not a desirable goal. Something may well be formally simple but at the same time incompatible with human cognition. Indeed, that may not be objective, but since when do we value things only by objective measures? That the only <i>objective</i> measure of simplicity may be the size of formal semantics does not mean that it is the most <i>useful</i> measure of simplicity (if we wish to view simplicity as possessing a positive value that implies ease of understanding).