Since failing explanations can always be burdened with ad hoc hypotheses to prevent them from being falsified, simpler theories are preferable to more complex ones because they tend to be more testable. For each accepted explanation of a phenomenon, there may be an extremely large, perhaps even incomprehensible, number of possible and more complex alternatives. In the scientific method, Occam's razor is not considered an irrefutable principle of logic or a scientific result the preference for simplicity in the scientific method is based on the falsifiability criterion. Similarly, in science, Occam's razor is used as an abductive heuristic in the development of theoretical models rather than as a rigorous arbiter between candidate models. This philosophical razor advocates that when presented with competing hypotheses about the same prediction, one should prefer the one that requires fewest assumptions, and that this is not meant to be a way of choosing between hypotheses that make different predictions. Popularly, the principle is sometimes inaccurately paraphrased as "The simplest explanation is usually the best one." Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian, it is frequently cited as Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, which translates as " Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity", although Occam never used these exact words. It is also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony ( Latin: lex parsimoniae). Occam's razor, Ockham's razor, or Ocham's razor ( Latin: novacula Occami) in philosophy is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements. For the Australian radio program, see Radio National. For the aerial theatre company, see Ockham's Razor Theatre Company. I have called this “ The principle of stability, inertia and recurrence“."Ockham's razor" redirects here. We find simple causes because we are designed to recognize simple objects.
The more complex a phenomenon, the more difficult we have to identify it.
The additional argument I put forward is that we are programmed to perceive simple facts. The former is simply more intuitive.Īn additional argument for rejecting Ockham’s razor The former is simply more intuitive.Ĭonsidering that natural wet neurons are responsible for sentience (without further explanation) is no less complex than considering that information processing units -such as artificial neurons or computers - are responsible for sentience (without further explanation). Ockham’s razor in the matter of sentienceĮven if it were true, many (or all) of the uses of Ockham’s razor applied to sentience (for example, to reject that computers or atoms are sentient) should be discarded because hypotheses are not being rejected because they are more complex, but for being less intuitive.īy way of analogy: considering that the Earth is flat (without further explanation) is no less complex than considering that the Earth is a sphere (without further explanation). If the sun seems to go around the Earth, it does. If things seem to be falling down, they are falling down.
The idea that things attract each other is complicated. But on the other hand, if we have two good explanations, what reason is there to discard the most complex one, if not for practical considerations? Another good argument to defend it is that we can create infinite (bad) explanations or hypotheses if we allow ourselves to complicate them as much as we want. See: Ī good argument to defend the strong version of the razor is that the razor is precisely what science seems to be doing: making explanations compatible with evidence as simple as possible. Many arguments have been written for and against Ockham’s razor. We may ask ourselves: is Occam’s razor a consideration about the validity of theories, or a practical consideration?ġ) The strong Occam’s razor: Theories have more or less validity depending on their complexity: “Other things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the correct one.”Ģ) The soft Occam’s razor: We choose the simplest simply for comfort: “Other things being equal, the practical thing is to choose the simplest explanation.” Interpretations of the meaning of Ockham’s razor There are different interpretations of the meaning of Ockham’s razor and different evaluations of its validity. Ockham’s razor is sometimes considered a type of scientific evidence. Occam’s razor is usually summed up in a phrase such as “Other things being equal, the simplest explanation is usually the right one”. “Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” – Einstein?
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