"The existence of a single Higgs boson was the simplest solution to the equations of particle physics. "Copernicus came up with the heliocentric model of the solar system solely on the basis that it was simpler," McFadden said. One implication of the second law of thermodynamics (disorder increases for any spontaneous process) is that such processes always use the least possible energy. ![]() The simplest medical diagnosis is usually correct hospital interns are often taught to think of horses, not zebras, when they hear hoofbeats. If two computer programs accomplish the same task, the one with less code is inevitably more efficient. Other later scientists stated similar simplifying laws and principles.When used correctly, Occam's razor works. ![]() Likewise, in science, Nicole d’Oresme, a 14th-century French physicist, invoked the law of economy, as did Galileo later, in defending the simplest hypothesis of the heavens. The principle was, in fact, invoked before Ockham by Durandus of Saint-Pourçain, a French Dominican theologian and philosopher of dubious orthodoxy, who used it to explain that abstraction is the apprehension of some real entity, such as an Aristotelian cognitive species, an active intellect, or a disposition, all of which he spurned as unnecessary. The principle is also expressed as “Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity.” Occam’s razor, also spelled Ockham’s razor, also called law of economy or law of parsimony, principle stated by the Scholastic philosopher William of Ockham (1285–1347/49) that pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate, “plurality should not be posited without necessity.” The principle gives precedence to simplicity: of two competing theories, the simpler explanation of an entity is to be preferred. They cite as an example the competing theories of creationism and evolution, in which relative “simplicity” depends on temporal and cultural context. Critics of the principle argue that it prioritizes simplicity over accuracy and that, since one cannot absolutely define “simplicity,” it cannot serve as a sure basis of comparison. The validity of Occam’s razor has long been debated. SpaceNext50 Britannica presents SpaceNext50, From the race to the Moon to space stewardship, we explore a wide range of subjects that feed our curiosity about space!.Learn about the major environmental problems facing our planet and what can be done about them! Saving Earth Britannica Presents Earth’s To-Do List for the 21st Century.100 Women Britannica celebrates the centennial of the Nineteenth Amendment, highlighting suffragists and history-making politicians.COVID-19 Portal While this global health crisis continues to evolve, it can be useful to look to past pandemics to better understand how to respond today.Student Portal Britannica is the ultimate student resource for key school subjects like history, government, literature, and more. ![]() This Time in History In these videos, find out what happened this month (or any month!) in history. ![]()
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