Very often, clarity comes when we suppose things from other perspectives. Some how, by taking another angle, the pieces to the puzzle align more simply. CopyPasta... Occams razor or Ockhams razor, attributed to 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham is the principle that entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily or, popularly applied, when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better. The principle states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory. When competing hypotheses are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selection of the hypothesis that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities while still sufficiently answering the question. It is in this sense that Occams razor is usually understood. To quote Isaac Newton: We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Therefore, to the same natural effects we must, so far as possible, assign the same causes. Einstein supposedly remarked, Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. To summarize the common understanding of the principle, Of several acceptable explanations for a phenomenon, the explanation containing just the facts will do. Occams razor is often cited in the following statements. . . If you have two theories that both explain the observed facts, then you should use the simplest until more evidence comes along The simplest explanation for some phenomenon is more likely to be accurate than more complicated explanations. If you have two equally likely solutions to a problem, choose the simplest. The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct.
Posted on: Thu, 31 Jul 2014 18:02:12 +0000
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