Dijkstra defines elegance as being “ingeniously simple and effective” and argues that its practical importance is often underestimated. Achieving an elegant solution requires considerable care, while recognising its value may require education. For sophisticated designs, he presents elegance not as an optional refinement but as something that can determine whether a solution succeeds or fails.

The document sets out four aims for a course on elegance and effective reasoning. Students are to identify the characteristics of elegant solutions, understand why those characteristics make reasoning effective and learn how to design elegant solutions when possible. The final aim extends beyond solving problems: students should develop the judgement needed to decide which problems are better left unsolved.

The course description therefore connects simplicity with effectiveness, disciplined design and problem selection, treating elegance as a practical principle for reasoning rather than merely an aesthetic quality.