![]() ![]() Obtaining funding for simpler hypotheses tends to be easier, as they are often cheaper to prove.Īlbert Einstein referred to Occam’s razor when developing his theory of special relativity. The use of Occam’s razor in science is also a matter of practicality. When you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is better. The version used by scientists can best be summarized as: Scientists choose to opt for the simplest solution as the current data permits, while remaining open to the possibility of future research allowing for greater complexity. However, it is common for new data to allow hypotheses to become more complex over time. As a consequence, the simplest solution which is consistent with the existing data is preferred. A complex explanation for a phenomenon involves many factors which can be difficult to test or lead to issues with the repeatability of an experiment. The simpler a hypothesis is, the more easily it can be proven or falsified. Occam’s razor is frequently used by scientists, in particular for theoretical matters. Nowadays, Occam’s razor is an established mental model which can form a useful part of a latticework of knowledge. Similarly, in natural science, in moral science, and in metaphysics the best is that which needs no premises and the better that which needs the fewer, other circumstances being equal. For if one thing were demonstrated from many and another thing from fewer equally known premises, clearly that is better which is from fewer because it makes us know quickly, just as a universal demonstration is better than particular because it produces knowledge from fewer premises. That is better and more valuable which requires fewer, other circumstances being equal…. Robert Grosseteste expanded on Aristotle’s writing in the 1200s, declaring Aristotle produced the oldest known statement of the concept, saying, “We may assume the superiority, other things being equal, of the demonstration which derives from fewer postulates or hypotheses.” Indeed, the concept of Occam’s razor is an ancient one. While he did not coin the term, his characteristic way of making deductions inspired other writers to develop the heuristic. The concept of Occam’s razor is credited to William of Ockham, a 14th-century friar, philosopher, and theologian. From then on, their brain will use less energy to complete the same action. If a person repeats the same action on a regular basis in response to the same cue and reward, it will become a habit as the corresponding neural pathway is formed. The same principle is present in biology. A ball at the top of a hill will roll down in order to be at the point of minimum potential energy. Physicists use Occam’s razor in the knowledge that they can rely on everything to use the minimum energy necessary to function. This facet of the second law of thermodynamics states that wherever possible, the use of energy is minimized. For example, the principle of minimum energy supports Occam’s razor. Science and math offer interesting lessons that demonstrate the value of simplicity. It works best as a mental model for making initial conclusions before the full scope of information can be obtained. Occam’s razor can be used in a wide range of situations, as a means of making rapid decisions and establishing truths without empirical evidence. In other words, we should avoid looking for excessively complex solutions to a problem, and focus on what works given the circumstances. In simpler language, Occam’s razor states that the simplest explanation is preferable to one that is more complex. Occam’s razor can be summarized as follows:Īmong competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. A philosophical razor is a tool used to eliminate improbable options in a given situation. Occam’s razor (also known as the “law of parsimony”) is a problem-solving principle which serves as a useful mental model. Occam’s razor is one of the most useful, (yet misunderstood,) models in your mental toolbox to solve problems more quickly and efficiently. ![]()
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