Of two equivalent theories or explanations, all other things being equal, the simpler one is to be preferred.
William Of OckhamRead
Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote advocates for simplicity in explanation, suggesting we shouldn't add unnecessary complexities.
William of Ockham's quote refers to the principle of parsimony, also known as Ockham's Razor, which emphasizes that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. The quote teaches the importance of simplicity in reasoning and encourages thinkers to avoid overcomplicating explanations when simpler ones suffice.
Themes
SimplicityExplanationEntitiesParsimonyHypothesis
In practice
Example use cases
A philosopher discussing the principle of Ockham's Razor in a lecture.
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