Occam’s Razor

Mental Model: Occam’s Razor

by Shane Parrish on December 22, 2009

All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one. Occam’s razor recommends that, when faced with two equally good hypotheses, choose the simpler. The principle is attributed to 14th-century English logician, theologian and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham. Said another way, Occam’s razor encourages the reduction of unnecessary elements in a [...]