The term Occam's razor was coined in the middle of the 19th century by William Hamilton, a Scottish mathematician:
We are, therefore, entitled to apply "Occam's razor" to this theory of causality.
Discussions, p.580 (
link)
Different versions exist:
- Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem Entities should not be multiplied unnecessarily. (Attributed to Occam, does not occur in any of his known works.)
- Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate Plurality must never be posited without necessity.
- Frustra fit per plura quod potest fieri per pauciora It is futile to do with more things that which can be done with fewer.
For more information see William M Thorburn (1918) "The Myth of Occam's Razor" in
Mind 27, pp.345–353 (
link). Also, note that the philosopher in question was named William of Ockham (or Occam). Cf. Leonardo or Da Vinci.
Occam's Razor
