Occam's Razor

Surface

Occam's Razor is the principle that among competing hypotheses, the one with the fewest assumptions should be selected. Named after 14th-century friar William of Ockham, it has become one of the most powerful heuristics in science and everyday reasoning.

Middle

The razor doesn't say the simplest explanation is always correct, it says unnecessary complexity is a liability. Every additional assumption is an additional point of failure. A theory that explains the same evidence with fewer moving parts is more likely to be right and more useful as a tool.

Deep

Occam's Razor is why conspiracy theories fail as explanations even when they feel compelling. They require dozens of assumptions, coordinated silence, perfect execution, hidden motives. The simpler explanation almost always requires fewer. Complexity should always earn its place.