Back to Search Start Over

The Dull Edge of Occam's Razor.

Authors :
ORESKES, NAOMI
Source :
Scientific American. Nov2024, Vol. 331 Issue 4, p70-71. 2p. 1 Cartoon or Caricature.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Occam's razor, the principle that the simplest explanation is often the best one, is not always accurate. The natural world is complex, and assuming that the simplest explanation is closest to the truth may not be valid. Occam's razor is based on the idea that we should not invoke entities or causes without evidence, but sometimes more complex explanations are necessary. For example, the existence of dark matter and the nature of light are explained by more complex models. In human affairs, things are often complex, and human motivations can be multiple. Occam's razor can be seen as a failure of imagination, and our explanations should match the complexity of the world. [Extracted from the article]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
00368733
Volume :
331
Issue :
4
Database :
Academic Search Index
Journal :
Scientific American
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
180028136
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/scientificamerican112024-4plb9gcj7v17bmd2yvgzrv