Beginner · Cognitive
Occam's razor
Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.
TL;DR. A principle favoring simpler explanations when multiple hypotheses explain the same phenomenon.
Technical Definition
A principle favoring simpler explanations when multiple hypotheses explain the same phenomenon.
How it works
Occam's razor is a problem-solving principle suggesting that when faced with competing hypotheses that make identical predictions, the one with the fewest assumptions should be preferred. This principle, attributed to William of Ockham, guides towards the most parsimonious explanation.
Related Concepts
- Heuristics — Practical rules of thumb that produce good-enough solutions when optimal ones are too expensive.