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philosophy

Why Occam's Razor Can Still Be Wrong

Newton's equations handled falling apples and orbiting moons.

Then Einstein's 1915 theory showed where that picture strained.

William of Ockham, the 14th-century friar behind the razor, argued that explanations should not multiply causes without need. It is a selection rule, not a truth machine, which means the simplest story earns the first look, nothing more.

A simple explanation can still miss a hidden fact. The razor trims the queue; evidence picks the winner.

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