What’s Occam’s razor?

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Occam’s razor or the law of parsimony is a concept embraced by some people in the broader sciences, philosophy, and humanities. Simply put, Occam’s razor states that the simplest theory is often the best, suggesting that nature uses the simplest means to an end. Occam’s razor is often used to reduce the number of competing theories under discussion, but it’s important to remember that it doesn’t actually rule out a theory, as empirical evidence is needed to prove or disprove something.

The saying “when you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras”, is a classic example of Occam’s razor, and also illustrates the weakness of this theory, since obviously if one is in Africa or on a reservation of zebras, the opposite of this statement would be true. In this case, more empirical information about the location of the hooves and ideally observation of whatever is creating the sound is needed before the presence of the zebras can be disproved.

This theory is quite ancient and was commonly used in medieval philosophy. It is named after William of Ockham, who seemed to use the concept a lot, though he definitely didn’t invent it. Ockham also did not use the theory without criticism; many of his contemporaries pointed out that a reduction to the simplest answer was not always the best solution. Modern scientists have also suggested that nature seems to abhor simplicity, sometimes inventing incredibly complex ways to accomplish simple things like fertilizing a flower.

Many people use Occam’s razor to eliminate a competing theory when given a choice between a theory that suggests the presence of an additional entity and one that doesn’t. The goal is to make as few assumptions as possible, and in the process hopefully come up with a workable answer to a problem or question. For example, at one point the field of physics relied on an “ether” to explain how light travels. The existence of this ether could not be proved, and when Einstein suggested his Theory of Relativity, he eliminated the ether entirely, postulating a clear and simple theory which was deemed the best theory because it was not based on the existence of a nebula” ether”.

While the goal of reducing assumptions and trying to draw conclusions based on what is actually known is certainly admirable, it’s important to remember that reductionism isn’t always the best solution to a problem. Occam’s razor is certainly a valid tool in scientific and philosophical discourse, but it is not the only tool, and it is certainly not infallible. Reductionist arguments supported by Occam’s razor can fall apart without supporting evidence.

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