Occam's razor: Difference between revisions
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'''Occam's razor''' states: other things being equal—when several theories explain the same facts equally well, it is rational to prefer the most parsimonious of the theories. Occam's razor, sometimes referred to as "ontological parsimony", commonly is attributed to William of Ockham in the 14th-century, although it probably predates him.<ref name=Baker/> | '''Occam's razor''' states: other things being equal—when several theories explain the same facts equally well, it is rational to prefer the most parsimonious of the theories. Occam's razor, sometimes referred to as "ontological parsimony", commonly is attributed to William of Ockham in the 14th-century, although it probably predates him.<ref name=Baker/> | ||
A translation of the original statement by William of Ockham is:<ref name=Ockham/> | |||
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We are not allowed to affirm a statement to be true or to maintain that a certain thing exists, unless we are forced to do so either by its self-evidence or by revelation or by experience or by a logical deduction from either a revealed truth or a proposition verified by observation. | |||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
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{{cite web |title=Simplicity; §2: Ontological parsimony |url=http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2011/entries/simplicity/#OntPar |author=Baker, Alan |date=February 25, 2010 |work=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition)|editor=Edward N. Zalta (ed.)|accessdate=2011-11-14}} | {{cite web |title=Simplicity; §2: Ontological parsimony |url=http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2011/entries/simplicity/#OntPar |author=Baker, Alan |date=February 25, 2010 |work=The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition)|editor=Edward N. Zalta (ed.)|accessdate=2011-11-14}} | ||
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<ref name=Ockham> | |||
{{cite book |pages=p. ''xx'' |edition=Latin and English translation of works originating over the years ''ca'' 1285-1349 |chapter=Introduction §4 |title=Ockham - Philosophical Writings: A Selection |author=William of Ockham |editor=Philotheus Boehner (translator) |url=http://www.amazon.com/Ockham-Philosophical-Writings-Selection-William/dp/0872200787#reader_0872200787 |publisher=Hackett Pub Co |isbn=0872200787 |year=1990}} | |||
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Revision as of 10:54, 14 November 2011
Occam's razor states: other things being equal—when several theories explain the same facts equally well, it is rational to prefer the most parsimonious of the theories. Occam's razor, sometimes referred to as "ontological parsimony", commonly is attributed to William of Ockham in the 14th-century, although it probably predates him.[1]
A translation of the original statement by William of Ockham is:[2]
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We are not allowed to affirm a statement to be true or to maintain that a certain thing exists, unless we are forced to do so either by its self-evidence or by revelation or by experience or by a logical deduction from either a revealed truth or a proposition verified by observation. |
References
- ↑ Baker, Alan (February 25, 2010). Edward N. Zalta (ed.):Simplicity; §2: Ontological parsimony. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition). Retrieved on 2011-11-14.
- ↑ William of Ockham (1990). “Introduction §4”, Philotheus Boehner (translator): Ockham - Philosophical Writings: A Selection, Latin and English translation of works originating over the years ca 1285-1349. Hackett Pub Co, p. xx. ISBN 0872200787.