Wordsmith.org: the magic of words

Wordsmith Talk

About Us | What's New | Search | Site Map | Contact Us  

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
#191135 05/17/10 01:10 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
M
stranger
OP Offline
stranger
M
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
This week's definition of Occam's Razor is that the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. As I've been taught, though, that's actually an oversimplification of the rule - and one that actually renders it useless, since 10 people will give you 11 opinions about what the simplest explanation is.

I was taught the rule is "The explanation that requires the fewest assumptions of facts-not-in-evidence is usually the correct one."

Miedvied #191136 05/17/10 01:40 PM
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,290
The term Occam's razor was coined in the middle of the 19th century by William Hamilton, a Scottish mathematician:
Quote:
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.


Ceci n'est pas un seing.
zmjezhd #191259 05/24/10 01:47 AM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
D
stranger
Offline
stranger
D
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
When a medical expert in a diagnostic discussion invokes the name of Occam, it's fun to offer up the converse.... Hickam's dictum ... "A patient can have as many diseases as he damn well pleases".


William R Lambeth, MD
diamondon #191261 05/24/10 02:07 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Welcome, diamondon. Who is or was Hickam, please?

Jackie #191269 05/24/10 10:57 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
While searching out the supposed Einstein quote about simplicity I cam across this little rambling on the subject from Will.Whim.

Miedvied #191271 05/24/10 01:25 PM
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
R
stranger
Offline
stranger
R
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 1
RE: zebras, the Quagga was a subspecies of the Plains Zebra, occurring in a limited range in South Africa. It has been extinct since the early 1880's (source Wikipedia). I'm not sure how it applies to the example given, except perhaps in the context of hypochondria, i.e., the explanation being a nonexistent illness?

Robert #191296 05/25/10 02:29 AM
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
I'm not sure how it applies to the example given, except perhaps in the context of hypochondria, i.e., the explanation being a nonexistent illness? Hi, Robert, and welcome. Well--in the W.A.D. Anu stated: Medical students are told, for example, "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." Barring countries where one is actually likely to hear zebras, it essentially means look for the most common cause(s) of symptoms first, rather than immediately running through the literature on obscure diseases. Absent special circs, such as the patient having recently traveled to some exotic place.

I remember one episode of Untold Stories of the E.R. where a young woman came in complaining, iirc, of severe headaches and nausea. I'm not a medical person [shudder] so I won't try to list what was done first, second, etc. But the doc, on visit after visit, tried all the standard tests and pain relievers, etc., and could never find anything; finally they sent her to Psychiatric, which also didn't help. She decided to try leaving for college on scehedule anyway, and I guess for sentimental reasons--he felt guilty about not being able to help her--the doc decided to walk her to her car. It was something several decades old which someone had restored. He accepted her offer of a short ride, and he began to get a headache. They rushed back and got blood tests: it turned out that carbon monoxide was leaking into the interior of the car. Mystery solved.

Jackie #191316 05/25/10 12:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
I think Robert was referring to the addition of quaggas in the list of things not to think about.

Faldage #191329 05/26/10 02:14 AM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618
D
addict
Offline
addict
D
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 618
Originally Posted By: Faldage
I think Robert was referring to the addition of quaggas in the list of things not to think about.


And the inverse relationship between the frequency of the quaggas' presence and the experience of the clinician. I've seen quite a few zebras, but still waiting for a quagga.

Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Carpal Tunnel
Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 11,613
Em. Okay. Since quaggas weren't mentioned in the W.A.D., I thought zebras was the main subject of his post. Oops.


Moderated by  Jackie 

Link Copied to Clipboard
Forum Statistics
Forums16
Topics13,912
Posts229,283
Members9,179
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
Newest Members
TRIALNERRA, befuddledmind, KILL_YOUR_SUV, Heather_Turey, Standy
9,179 Registered Users
Who's Online Now
0 members (), 444 guests, and 3 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Top Posters(30 Days)
Top Posters
wwh 13,858
Faldage 13,803
Jackie 11,613
tsuwm 10,542
wofahulicodoc 10,510
LukeJavan8 9,916
AnnaStrophic 6,511
Wordwind 6,296
of troy 5,400
Disclaimer: Wordsmith.org is not responsible for views expressed on this site. Use of this forum is at your own risk and liability - you agree to hold Wordsmith.org and its associates harmless as a condition of using it.

Home | Today's Word | Yesterday's Word | Subscribe | FAQ | Archives | Search | Feedback
Wordsmith Talk | Wordsmith Chat

© 1994-2024 Wordsmith

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5