Occam’s Razor emphasizes creating a working theory around the more simplistic possible answer and concentrating research with that answer in mind. In many situations, scientists are presented with two or more possible answers to problems or natural phenomenon that they are studying. Occam’s Razor is most applicable to scientific and mathematical contexts. When something isn’t known and there are multiple possible explanations, Ockham believed it was most logical and rational to choose the simpler explanation because it avoided the problem of making assumptions. In any other situation, Ockham applied his most famous theory, Occam’s Razor. Ockham believed that things could only truly be known through self-evidence, experience, or Scripture. He spent a lot of time thinking of the best ways to come to logical answers to questions. William of Ockham was a theologian and philosopher who specialized in the area of logic. Keywords: simplicity, Law of Parsimony, Ockham’s Razor, rational, simple explanations, simple hypothesis, scientific inquiry Originator: William of Ockham (1287-1347) If a problem has two possible explanations – a simple one and a complex one – Occam’s Razor rationalizes that the simple explanation is more likely correct.

Summary: Occam’s Razor, also known as the Law of Parsimony, is a decision-making philosophy which emphasizes the rationality of simple explanations.

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