Ockham's Razor (Noun)
Meaning
The principle that entities should not be multiplied needlessly; the simplest of two competing theories is to be preferred.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- The detectives applied Ockham's razor to the case, choosing the most straightforward explanation for the crime over a complex web of conspiracies.
- The scientist invoked Ockham's razor when evaluating the competing theories, opting for the one that required the fewest assumptions.
- In evaluating the data, the researcher was guided by Ockham's razor, preferring the simple and elegant explanation to the more convoluted one.
- Ockham's razor led the philosopher to favor a minimalist interpretation of the text, avoiding unnecessary complexity and ambiguity.
- The engineer applied Ockham's razor to the design problem, selecting the solution that required the fewest components and the least amount of complexity.