The concept that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is the best one, that is, \u201cwhat can be done with fewer (assumptions) is done in vain with more.\u201d<\/p>\n
Philosophical rule first put forth by the medieval English scholar William of Occam or Ockham (c. 1285-1349). \u201cOccam\u2019s Razor,\u201d sometimes called the \u201claw of parsimony,\u201d states that explanations for a phenomenon should be simple and should not be multiplied without a very good reason: \u201cEntities must not needlessly be multiplied.\u201d In other words, the simplest explanation is to be preferred over more complex explanations. When faced with two hypotheses that explain the observations equally well, choose the simpler. Observers should try to explain unusual happenings as the result of known phenomena, rather than assuming that they occur from new or exotic causes.<\/p>\n
Occam\u2019s Razor is a useful tool for philosophical thinking because it places logical limits on the possible number of explanations for any given happening. One example might be the space theories of Immanuel velikovsky: they offer complex ideas that might be true, but only if a very complex chain of events had taken place. Occam\u2019s Razor suggests that a simpler explanation would be more likely.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The concept that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is the best one, that is, \u201cwhat can be done with fewer (assumptions) is done in vain with more.\u201d Philosophical rule first put forth by the medieval English scholar William of Occam or Ockham (c. 1285-1349). \u201cOccam\u2019s Razor,\u201d sometimes called the \u201claw of parsimony,\u201d states that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-187559","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-o"],"yoast_head":"\n