What is Occam's Razor?

Answer 1

Occam's razor (also spelled Ockham's razor) is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar William of Ockham. The principle states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating, or "shaving off", those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory.

This is often paraphrased as "All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest hypothetical entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.

Answer 2

"one should not increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything"

Occam's razor is a logical principle attributed to the mediaeval philosopher William of Occam (or Ockham). The principle states that one should not make more assumptions than the minimum needed.

Answer 3

It applies to religion because: If you believe in God, then Occam's Razor says that the resurection is true. If you don't believe in God, then the simplest answer would be something else such as theives stoll the body.

Answer 4

A rule of thumb: the simplest explanation for a phenomenon tends to be right.

Answer 5

All things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one.

Answer 6

It is an arguement that asserts that all things being equal, the simplest solution is probably the correct one.

That is the simplest way I can put it.

Answer 7

"Why change to a multiple bladed razor, when the old single blade razor does the job.?"