Caltech class sizes and the "Rule of 150"

[InquilineKea]

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But that’s not at all the reason Caltech Houses don’t follow this rule; it’s people that live off-campus, or even people that live on campus, but socialize with people outside the House, that break this rule.</p>

<p>Honestly, if the rule of 150 fails for such a simple example, what hope does it have for larger and more complex communities?

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<p>But how do Caltech houses fail the rule? Can you give examples as to why you think it fails the rule? Of course in this case people also have CHOICE of communication, which the Amish do not have (and which military regiments also don’t have). </p>

<p>With respect to any model, one has to think of (a) instances where the model is applicable almost exactly as it is intended and (b) instances where the model isn’t particularly applicable exactly as intended BUT where the model can still explain some aspects of the instance. And if so, can it explain those aspects in a way that hasn’t already been explained?</p>

<p>So…</p>

<p>(a) We know that the model applies to highly insulated communities where its constituent members are forced to communicate with each other.
(b) The question, then, is, how applicable is the model to less insulated communities? Even if it does not explain away those communities all the way, can it explain certain parts of them? The enforceability of the Caltech Honor Code, for example, can be explained by the model.</p>