The one with the fewer number of moving parts, so to speak, is most likely to be correct. The idea is always to cut out extra unnecessary bits , hence the name “razor.” An example will help illustrate this.
Where did the term razor come from?
razor (n.)
c. 1300, rasour, “sharp-edged instrument for shaving or cutting hair,” from Old French rasor, raseor “a razor” (12c.) , from raser “to scrape, shave,” from Medieval Latin rasare, frequentative of Latin radere (past participle rasus) “to scrape, shave” (see raze (v.)). Compare Medieval Latin rasorium.
What does the razor mean in Occam's razor?
What does Occam's razor mean? Occam's razor is a philosophical principle that states the simplest explanation is usually the best one.
Why are principles called razors?
William of Ockham
His popular fame as a great logician rests chiefly on the maxim attributed to him and known as Occam's razor. The term razor refers to distinguishing between two hypotheses either by “shaving away” unnecessary assumptions or cutting apart two similar conclusions .
Why is Occam's razor wrong?
When used incorrectly, Occam's razor can have more serious consequences. ... Because it can lack firmness and consistency when applied to complex ideas or phenomena, Occam's razor is more commonly seen as a guiding heuristic than as a principle of absolute truth.
When did men start shaving?
It is believed that Stone Age men started shaving 100,000 years ago by using clam shells like tweezers and pulling out their beard hair. About 60,000 years ago, man discovered shaving, and started using sharpened obsidian and clam shells to shave their beards.
What's the opposite of Occam's razor?
Occam's Duct Tape : the opposite of Occam's razor: an approach to problems with an absurd number of assumptions. Parsimony: the quality of being frugal with explanations. It suggests that ideas are usually connected in the simplest or most economically sound way possible.
Is Occam's razor always true?
They may be easier to falsify, but still require effort. And that the simpler explanation, although having a higher chance of being correct, is not always true . Occam's razor is not intended to be a substitute for critical thinking. ... Most people oversimplify Occam's razor to mean the simplest answer is usually correct.
What is Occam's razor example?
Examples of Occam's razor
“ You have a headache?” , “Oh no... you might have the Black Death!” Sure, it's true that one of the symptoms of the Black Death is a headache but, using Occam's razor, it's obviously much more likely that you're dehydrated or suffering from a common cold.
What is a razor in logic?
In philosophy, a razor is a principle or rule of thumb that allows one to eliminate (“shave off”) unlikely explanations for a phenomenon, or avoid unnecessary actions . ... Occam's razor: Simpler explanations are more likely to be correct; avoid unnecessary or improbable assumptions.
What is a razor saying?
Occam's razor (or Ockham's razor) is a principle from philosophy. Suppose an event has two possible explanations. The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions is usually correct. Another way of saying it is that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation .
What is a razor rule?
Occam's razor, also spelled Ockham's razor, also called law of economy or law of parsimony, principle stated by the Scholastic philosopher William of Ockham (1285–1347/49) that pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate, “plurality should not be posited without necessity.” The principle gives precedence to simplicity: ...
What is the simplest answer that explains the most evidence?
Occam's Razor , put simply, states: “the simplest solution is almost always the best.” It's a problem-solving principle arguing that simplicity is better than complexity. Named after 14th-century logician and theologian William of Ockham, this theory has been helping many great thinkers for centuries.
Where does Occam's razor fail?
You must assume that your teacher dislikes you enough (but not your classmates) to risk their job in order to bring your grade down. Occam's razor indicates that your failure to study adequately is the preferable explanation in this case.
What is Occam's razor in psychology?
The simplicity principle, traditionally referred to as Occam's razor, is the idea that simpler explanations of observations should be preferred to more complex ones .
Is the simplest explanation the best?
Called Ockam's razor (more commonly spelled Occam's razor), it advises you to seek the more economical solution: In layman's terms, the simplest explanation is usually the best one. ... Occam's razor is often stated as an injunction not to make more assumptions than you absolutely need.
