>> 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 facto

>> 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.