Quote:

Occam's razor (or Ockham's razor[1]) is the meta-theoretical principle that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity" (entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem) and the conclusion thereof, that the simplest solution is usually the correct one.

...

In science, Occam’s razor is used as a heuristic (rule of thumb) to guide scientists in the development of theoretical models rather than as an arbiter between published models.[4][5] In the scientific method, Occam's razor is not considered an irrefutable principle of logic, and certainly not a scientific result.[6][7][8][9]

...


It has been suggested that Occam’s razor is a widely accepted example of extraevidential consideration, even though it is entirely a metaphysical assumption. There is little empirical evidence that the world is actually simple or that simple accounts are more likely than complex ones to be true.[20]

---

morrowasted said:

Quote:

Occam's razor (or Ockham's razor[1]) is the meta-theoretical principle that "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity" (entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem) and the conclusion thereof, that the simplest solution is usually the correct one.

...

In science, Occam’s razor is used as a heuristic (rule of thumb) to guide scientists in the development of theoretical models rather than as an arbiter between published models.[4][5] In the scientific method, Occam's razor is not considered an irrefutable principle of logic, and certainly not a scientific result.[6][7][8][9]

...


It has been suggested that Occam’s razor is a widely accepted example of extraevidential consideration, even though it is entirely a metaphysical assumption. There is little empirical evidence that the world is actually simple or that simple accounts are more likely than complex ones to be true.[20]

---

The average person on the internet employs Occam's Razor, typically having in mind the eroded definition "the simplest explanation must be the right explanation", as if it were a legitimate argument. I don't get it. Stop. It's not.

---

NizzyJones said:

It's a common logical fallacy: argumentum ad verecundiam, respecting a rule or authority as if infallible.

---

ShockValue said:

Yeah, its overused, but it's still better than the  "I can't explain it, so aliens did it" argument.

---

morrowasted said:

NizzyJones said:

It's a common logical fallacy: argumentum ad verecundiam, respecting a rule or authority as if infallible.

---

this seems to be overlooked by most people

---