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1.1.7.5 Occam’s RazorVersion 1.3 March 2013 (Previous Version) This principle, also called the principle of parsimony, is phrased in a variety of ways: · When we have two equally good competing explanations for the same set of facts, we might as well choose the simpler explanation, the one with the fewest number of entities. · Among competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with the fewest assumptions should be selected. or · We should use simpler theories unless simplicity can be traded for greater explanatory power. This principle is named after William of Occam (1287 - 1347), an English friar and philosopher. In philosophy and law it is known as the principle of parsimony. In business it is called the KISS principle: Keep It Simple, Stupid. We should avoid complex designs or processes unless they are really necessary. (We must be wary of Keeping It Stupidly Simple: some business people are, unfortunately, out of touch with reality. It’s a balance judgement.) Occam’s Razor isn’t a dogmatic law, but a guideline to choosing the best explanations for the facts. Before Einstein’s theory of relativity explained how light behaved, scientists knew that in many ways light behaved like a wave, because it bounced off walls, spread out the same way, and made interference patterns, just like water waves in a river or even sound waves. Water waves must pass through water, and sound waves through the air (or at least some substance). By analogy it was thought light must pass through some medium they called the “ether”. We can measure the speed of river water and scientists tried to measure the speed of the “ether”. But no experiment could detect the ether. It became apparent that the “ether” didn’t help as an explanation of light and the idea was dropped, and is no longer talked about in current science. Occam’s Razor is not only applied in science, but in history and religion. Some religious stories have complex “histories” of pre-creation Gods that end with one or more gods who, the stories say, actually create the world or various aspects of it. We have evidence that the world exists, but there is little evidence for anything that occurred before the beginning of our universe, and having all these gods doesn’t help much in explaining what the world is like. Other religious people, including Christians and Muslims who together make up about a third of the population, use the principle of parsimony, Occam’s Razor, to discount what they see as unnecessary gods and believe in only one God who is the creator and sustainer of the world. The benefit of a simpler explanation is that we can understand it better. More understanding allows us to review, discuss and criticise the explanation. More analysis helps us to improve an explanation, or reject it if it is no longer appropriate. Simpler and improved explanations are easier for us to apply in the real world and will be more effective in guiding our behaviour. 1.1.7.5 The principle of parsimony, or Occam’s Razor, is a useful guideline to choose among competing explanations, and simpler explanations are easier for us to evaluate, criticize, reject or improve, and easier for us use in life. more (later)
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