Why don't most scientists apply Occam's Razor? It may cause them to be correct more often and?

Question

they could focus on real answers. It would not help weathermen, though, since they are professional liars.

Answer 1

Why would they want to use someone elses razor? Don't they make enough money to buy there own? :)

Answer 2

I agree with secretsauce. Scientist DO apply Ocham's razor, usually. It's the pseudo-scientists that seldom do (and look foolish to real scientists for not doing so).

Unfortunately, most non-scientists don't understand the concept. A classic example is crop circles. If you had two possible hypotheses: 1. they are caused by pranksters having a bit of fun, or 2. Aliens travel light years to earth to flatten wheat stalks, which hypothesis would you choose after applying Ocham's? Of course you'd choose option 1. What did many people choose instead? You guessed it.

It's the same with many "alternative medicines", ghosts, religious experiences etc etc.

Answer 3

Most scientists *do* apply Occam's Razor.

It basically says that when two theories have equal predictive power, we should choose the one that requires the fewest assumptions or hypothetical entities.

Don't know what your jab at weathermen is about.

Answer 4

Harlon's Razor is so much smoother on my skin.

Answer 5

Why do idiots ask loaded questions?

Answer 6

And their faces wouldn't be so stubbly.