#they're logical maxims that can help you recognize when you're thinking fallaciously | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

well-welly-well-belly-belle · 28 days ago

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anyway, Occam's Razor doesn't actually say that the *simplest* solution is usually correct. if it did then the explanation for most things would just be "wizards n' warlocks, probably" so, what *does* it say? That the solution requiring the *fewest assumptions* is often correct It's not an appeal against complexity, it's meant to shave away conspiracy theorizing, black-and-white thinking, and circular logic, and appeal towards evidence-first reasoning

#I've seen religious people claim Occam's Razor is “proof” of the existence of god #I could see how that might seem true if you don't know the meaning of any of the words you say #but philosophical razors are not the same as logical proofs #nor should they be treated as inviolable laws #they're logical maxims that can help you recognize when you're thinking fallaciously #but putting all your proverbial stock in razors is itself a form of fallacious reasoning

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