Contrary to Occam's Razor, the Simplest Explanation Is Often Not the Best One
Briefly

from www.scientificamerican.com4 months ago
The notion that the simplest explanation is often the best—and the most accurate—is deeply rooted in philosophical traditions, dating back to William of Ockham's principle of parsimony.
www.scientificamerican.comhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/contrary-to-occams-razor-the-simplest-explanation-is-often-not-the-best-one/
Occam's razor suggests that we should not assume more entities exist than are absolutely necessary to explain something, pushing us towards ontological minimalism.
www.scientificamerican.comhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/contrary-to-occams-razor-the-simplest-explanation-is-often-not-the-best-one/
Isaac Newton furthered this idea with his concept of vera causa, emphasizing that we should only posit causes that we can justify through evidence.
www.scientificamerican.comhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/contrary-to-occams-razor-the-simplest-explanation-is-often-not-the-best-one/
While simplicity in explanation is appealing, the complexity of real-world phenomena often challenges the validity of this principle, highlighting the importance of critical thinking.
www.scientificamerican.comhttps://www.scientificamerican.com/article/contrary-to-occams-razor-the-simplest-explanation-is-often-not-the-best-one/
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#occams-razor #philosophy #simplicity #scientific-explanation #critical-thinking
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