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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 smallest possible set of elements.
William of Ockham was born in Ockham, Surrey, in 1287. [13] He received his elementary education in the London House of the Greyfriars. [14] It is believed that he then studied theology at the University of Oxford [7] [8] from 1309 to 1321, [15] but while he completed all the requirements for a master's degree in theology, he was never made a regent master. [16]
Occamism (or Ockhamism) is the philosophical and theological teaching developed by William of Ockham (1285–1347) and his disciples, which had widespread currency in the 14th century.
Occam's razor: Explanations which require fewer unjustified assumptions are more likely to be correct; avoid unnecessary or improbable assumptions. Popper's falsifiability criterion: For a theory to be considered scientific, it must be falsifiable. [7] Sagan standard: Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence. [8]
Occam's Razor or Ockham's Razor usually refers to Occam's razor, the philosophical principle. It may also refer to: Ockham's Razor Theatre Company "Occam's Razor" (2004), an episode of House "Occam's Razor" (2022), an episode of The Watcher
Occam's razor: explanations should never multiply causes without necessity. ("Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem.") When two or more explanations are offered for a phenomenon, the simplest full explanation is preferable. Named after William of Ockham (c. 1285–1349).
Hickam's dictum is a counterargument to the use of Occam's razor in the medical profession. [1] While Occam's razor suggests that the simplest explanation is the most likely, implying in medicine that diagnosticians should assume a single cause for multiple symptoms, one form of Hickam's dictum states: "A man can have as many diseases as he damn well pleases."
Walter Chatton (c. 1290–1343) was an English Scholastic theologian and philosopher who regularly sparred philosophically with William of Ockham, who is well known for Occam's razor. Chatton proposed an "anti-razor". From his Lectura I d. 3, q. 1, a. 1: