Think Better · 45 sec
Occam's razor
A compact thinking tool for spotting patterns and avoiding mistakes.
The useful idea
- The useful idea
In philosophy, Occam's razor (also spelled Ockham's razor or Ocham's razor; Latin: novacula Occami) is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the
- How it works
It is also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony (Latin: lex parsimoniae).
- Why it matters
Attributed to William of Ockham, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian, it is frequently cited as Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem, which translates as "Entities must not be
Why this matters
Use Occam's razor as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Try this
Use Occam's razor as a quick check before trusting your first conclusion.
Test your recall
Which idea belongs to the explanation of Occam's razor?
- The useful idea — correct
- How it works
- Why it matters
In philosophy, Occam's razor (also spelled Ockham's razor or Ocham's razor; Latin: novacula Occami) is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the