4 ms·

My conclusion on reading this discussion is that if a bunch of smart people can't agree on what Occam's razor is useful for, it isn't useful!

by scoot 10y ago

Lordarminius 10y ago
>> drzaiusapelord ,scoot Occams razor does not ask that you accept the simplest explanation. It asks that one take into account as many, and only as many factors as necessary to explain a phenom. It does not promote fallacy or lessen rigour. It is a "loose leash but a tight chain" As originally defined, it stated: Entities should not be multiplied without necessity(Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem). Bertrand Russel held the principle in high regard. This quote from Newton encapsulates its application: "We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances." and simplified for scientists in this form: ""when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better" http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/occam.html http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/occam.html There is a line of scholarship that believes William of Occam (c1287-1347) never made the quote attributed to him. http://www.logicmuseum.com/authors/other/mythofockham.htm http://www.logicmuseum.com/authors/other/mythofockham.htm What is termed Occams razor by vog asQuirrel asmad and others is a statistical/logicians derivative not really of concern to most people.
teslaberry 10y ago
using occam's razor i reject your conclusion because you are assuming that there are a bunch of smart people engaging in discussion. this is an extraneous assumption in your theory. and thus, in humorously recursive fashion, i have used occam's razor to disprove your conclusion about occam's razor not being useful. needless to say , a theory with fewer assumptions about this discussion doesn't assume that the people having it are smart. (i'm not saying they are stupid!!! ...how about the default non assumption that they are merely average ) DISPROVE THAT! :)
vetras 10y ago
You do make one assumption however, which is: "discussions on the internet, lead somewhere". Which they don't, therefore you can't say Occam's razor isn't useful. :) funny
deleted 10y ago
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My conclusion on reading this discussion is that if a bunch of smart people can't agree on what Occam's razor is useful for, it isn't useful!

by scoot 10y ago

My conclusion on reading this discussion is that if a bunch of smart people can't agree on what Occam's razor is useful for, it isn't useful!

Lordarminius 10y ago

>> drzaiusapelord ,scoot Occams razor does not ask that you accept the simplest explanation. It asks that one take into account as many, and only as many factors as necessary to explain a phenom. It does not promote fallacy or lessen rigour. It is a "loose leash but a tight chain" As originally defined, it stated: Entities should not be multiplied without necessity(Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem). Bertrand Russel held the principle in high regard. This quote from Newton encapsulates its application: "We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances." and simplified for scientists in this form: ""when you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better" http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/occam.html http://math.ucr.edu/home/baez/physics/General/occam.html There is a line of scholarship that believes William of Occam (c1287-1347) never made the quote attributed to him. http://www.logicmuseum.com/authors/other/mythofockham.htm http://www.logicmuseum.com/authors/other/mythofockham.htm What is termed Occams razor by vog asQuirrel asmad and others is a statistical/logicians derivative not really of concern to most people.

teslaberry 10y ago

using occam's razor i reject your conclusion because you are assuming that there are a bunch of smart people engaging in discussion. this is an extraneous assumption in your theory. and thus, in humorously recursive fashion, i have used occam's razor to disprove your conclusion about occam's razor not being useful. needless to say , a theory with fewer assumptions about this discussion doesn't assume that the people having it are smart. (i'm not saying they are stupid!!! ...how about the default non assumption that they are merely average ) DISPROVE THAT! :)

vetras 10y ago

You do make one assumption however, which is: "discussions on the internet, lead somewhere". Which they don't, therefore you can't say Occam's razor isn't useful. :) funny

deleted 10y ago

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