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A.Word.A.Day--Ockham's razor

Ockham's razor also Occam's razor (OK-ehmz ray-zuhr) noun

A rule in science and philosophy stating that entities should not be multiplied needlessly. This rule is interpreted to mean that the simplest of two or more competing theories is preferable and that an explanation for unknown phenomena should first be attempted in terms of what is already known. Also called law of parsimony.

[After William of Ockham, an English philosopher of the fourteenth century.]

"He took to be real the things his senses revealed and the fewest objects necessary to explain them, this last being a use of Ockham's razor." Reg Naulty, The English soul and God, The Month, Mar 1, 1999.

This week's theme: eponyms.

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