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But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the most likely answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation '''is likely free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation''' (although such is acknowledged to not be guaranteed).
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But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the most likely ''most likely'' answer (not necessarily the ''correct'' one) is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation '''is likely free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation''' (although such is acknowledged to not be guaranteed).
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Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation '''is likely free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation''' (although such is acknowledged to not be guaranteed).
to:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct most likely answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation '''is likely free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation''' (although such is acknowledged to not be guaranteed).
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Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation. (And technically, that doesn't guarantee that it's correct; it's just the one most likely to be correct.)
to:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be '''is likely free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation. (And technically, that doesn't guarantee that it's correct; it's just the one most likely explanation''' (although such is acknowledged to not be correct.)
guaranteed).
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Changed line(s) 3,4 (click to see context) from:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
to:
But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
explanation. (And technically, that doesn't guarantee that it's correct; it's just the one most likely to be correct.)
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Addition of highly technical philosophical clarification.
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But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
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But more accurately, Occam's Razor states that the correct answer is the simplest one that ''also'' agrees with all of the facts. That is, Occam's Razor is not about simplicity; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.explanation.
And, in the most persnickety and technical sense, William of Ockham created the Razor to avoid God or AWizardDidIt as an unreflective solution to scientific and philosophical questions. The Razor is not an assertion that unobserved or immaterial causes are disproved or presumed not to exist (or proved/presumed to exist), but that one should not multiply causes as explanation of material phenomena unnecessarily (i.e. given that they cannot be observed, the empirical sciences restrict their scope to material causes and make no claims whatsoever about form, finality, or efficiency).
And, in the most persnickety and technical sense, William of Ockham created the Razor to avoid God or AWizardDidIt as an unreflective solution to scientific and philosophical questions. The Razor is not an assertion that unobserved or immaterial causes are disproved or presumed not to exist (or proved/presumed to exist), but that one should not multiply causes as explanation of material phenomena unnecessarily (i.e. given that they cannot be observed, the empirical sciences restrict their scope to material causes and make no claims whatsoever about form, finality, or efficiency).
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Simplifying. (See what I did there?)
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'''[[AliceAndBob Alice]]:''' Occam's razor says that when dealing with a problem with multiple solutions, the simplest solution is the correct solution.
'''Bob:''' That's a common misconception of Occam's razor, in which in any circumstances, one chooses the theory which involves the least amount of work to get answers that match one's requirements. In other words: accept the simplest explanation that fits ''most'' of the facts.
Occam's razor actually states that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity." This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.
'''Carol:''' That is, however, incorrect. Occam's razor is not concerned with the simplicity or complexity of a good explanation as such; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
'''Bob:''' That's a common misconception of Occam's razor, in which in any circumstances, one chooses the theory which involves the least amount of work to get answers that match one's requirements. In other words: accept the simplest explanation that fits ''most'' of the facts.
Occam's razor actually states that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity." This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.
'''Carol:''' That is, however, incorrect. Occam's razor is not concerned with the simplicity or complexity of a good explanation as such; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
to:
'''Bob:''' That's a common misconception of Occam's razor, in which in any circumstances, one chooses the theory which involves the least amount of work to get answers that match one's requirements. In other words: accept
But more accurately, Occam's
'''Carol:''' That is, however, incorrect. Occam's razor
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Added DiffLines:
'''[[AliceAndBob Alice]]:''' Occam's razor says that when dealing with a problem with multiple solutions, the simplest solution is the correct solution.
'''Bob:''' That's a common misconception of Occam's razor, in which in any circumstances, one chooses the theory which involves the least amount of work to get answers that match one's requirements. In other words: accept the simplest explanation that fits ''most'' of the facts.
Occam's razor actually states that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity." This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.
'''Carol:''' That is, however, incorrect. Occam's razor is not concerned with the simplicity or complexity of a good explanation as such; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
'''Bob:''' That's a common misconception of Occam's razor, in which in any circumstances, one chooses the theory which involves the least amount of work to get answers that match one's requirements. In other words: accept the simplest explanation that fits ''most'' of the facts.
Occam's razor actually states that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity." This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.
'''Carol:''' That is, however, incorrect. Occam's razor is not concerned with the simplicity or complexity of a good explanation as such; it only demands that the explanation be free of elements that have nothing to do with the phenomenon and the explanation.
