Attributed to the 14th century logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham, Ockham’s Razor says the simplest explanation is usually the best one. This problem-solving principle recommends searching for explanations constructed using the smallest possible set of elements.
“We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances”.
Isaac Newton
“Scientists must use the simplest means of arriving at their results and exclude everything not perceived by the senses”
Ernst Mach
The principle gives precedence to simplicity: and expressed as “Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity.” Ockham’s Razor relies on evidence or truths and eschews convoluted theories.
Ockham’s Razor ‘shaves off’ unlikely explanations
This philosophical razor advocates that when faced with competing explanations for the same phenomenon, the simplest is likely the correct one. Ockham’s Razor is a heuristic – a rule of thumb – to suggest which hypothesis is most likely to be true.
Ockham’s Razor is often cited in stronger forms than Ockham intended
This is not meant to be a way of choosing between hypotheses that make different predictions. It is also not meant to definitively prescribe what is correct. Ockham’s Razor doesn’t prove or disprove, it simply leads you down the path that’s most likely to be correct.
A statement or explanation that includes many ‘ifs’ should trigger mental alarm bells. Reduce the issue to evidence or first principles – what is known – and be skeptical of things that are surmised. Consider Ockham’s Razor and, from that foundation, investigate the matter further.
Occam’s Razor
Principle of Economy
Principle of Parsimony