Occam's Razor Debates

This cluster centers on comments invoking, questioning, or debating the application of Occam's razor to evaluate simpler versus more complex explanations or hypotheses in the parent discussion. Users argue over its relevance, limitations as a heuristic, and whether it supports or refutes particular theories.

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1,528
Comments
20
Years Active
5
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#6308
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Keywords

COVID EcoHealth arxiv.org wikipedia.org occam razor occam razor explanation simpler prior simplest hypotheses heuristic suggests

Sample Comments

rideontime Dec 5, 2022 View on HN

How in the world is this applying Occam's razor?

vmorgulis Jul 5, 2016 View on HN

There is the Occam's razor:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam's_razor

timmytokyo Jul 11, 2025 View on HN

Occam's razor would seem to apply here.

yters Dec 13, 2019 View on HN

How does Occam's razor imply this?

phaedryx Jun 16, 2020 View on HN

Agreed. Certainly fails the Occam's razor test for me.

PartiallyTyped Jan 24, 2021 View on HN

Occam's razor applies here as well.

sturza Apr 28, 2021 View on HN

Did you take occam’s razor into account? Why is this likely?

truckerbill Jan 29, 2024 View on HN

Occam's razor is a heuristic not a law so this isn't really a satisfactory explanation

agubelu Jul 12, 2025 View on HN

Yet Occam's razor still applies

golemotron Mar 11, 2024 View on HN

Occam's Razor does a lot of heavy lifting.