Simpler explanations are, other things being equal, generally better than more complex ones. William of Ockham More Quotes by William of Ockham More Quotes From William of Ockham The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is most likely to be correct. William of Ockham occams-razor explanation assumption For nothing ought to be posited without a reason given, unless it is self-evident (literally, known through itself) or known by experience or proved by the authority of Sacred Scripture. William of Ockham sacred-scripture self reason Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem William of Ockham occams-razor razors atheism My God is the green tide in the spring leaves the redness of cherries high in the air the excitement of shooting stars the song of birds in summer branches the sunrise on a winter's morning the name of everything we don't understand. William of Ockham summer song morning God's existence cannot be deduced by reason alone. William of Ockham existence reason With all things being equal, the simplest explanation tends to be the right one. William of Ockham occams-razor explanation equal It is vain to do with more what can be done with less. William of Ockham creativity simple peace No more things should be presumed to exist than are absolutely necessary. William of Ockham should What can be explained by the assumption of fewer things is vainly explained by the assumption of more things. William of Ockham fewer assumption When you have two competing theories that make exactly the same predictions, the simpler one is the better. William of Ockham predictions theory two Never increase, beyond what is necessary, the number of entities required to explain anything. William of Ockham entity increase numbers Intuitive cognition of a thing is cognition that enables us to know whether the thing exists or does not exist, in such a way that, if the thing exists, then the intellect immediately judges that it exists and evidently knows that it exists, unless the judgment happens to be impeded through the imperfection of this cognition. William of Ockham imperfection perception judging 3 is a prime, 5 is a prime, and 7 is a prime. Why bother with non-prime numbers when the primes can do everything? William of Ockham prime bother numbers Entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity. William of Ockham occams-razor entity stupidity First it must be known that only a spoken word or a conventional sign is an equivocal or univocal term; therefore a mental contentor concept is, strictly speaking, neither equivocal nor univocal. William of Ockham term language firsts Of two equivalent theories or explanations, all other things being equal, the simpler one is to be preferred. William of Ockham occams-razor decision two Whenever two hypotheses cover the facts, use the simpler of the two. William of Ockham simplicity use two Entities should not be posited unnecessarily. William of Ockham entity should science Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate. A plurality (of reasons) should not be posited without necessity. William of Ockham should reason Plurality should not be assumed without necessity. William of Ockham less-is-more simplicity simple
