Occam's razor: Difference between revisions
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{{cite book |pages=p. ''xx'' |edition=Latin | {{cite book |pages=p. ''xx'' |edition=Latin works originating over the years ''ca'' 1285-1349 and English translation |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 11:15, 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 works originating over the years ca 1285-1349 and English translation. Hackett Pub Co, p. xx. ISBN 0872200787.