Occam’s razor

Table of Contents

Introduction & Top Questions References & Edit History Quick Facts & Related Topics

Images

William of Ockham

Read Next

William of Ockham, circa 1280 - 10.4.1349, English theologist and philosopher, portrait, later portrayal,

Is Occam’s Razor Valid?

Spiral Galaxy type Sa-Sb or Sa/Sb in the constellation Virgo. The majestic Sombrero Galaxy Messier 104 (M104) or NGC 4594. The team took six pictures of the galaxy, stitched them together to create the final composite image. Photo from May-June 2003

9 Britannica Articles That Explain the Meaning of Life

Aristotle (384-322 BC), Ancient Greek philosopher and scientist. One of the most influential philosophers in the history of Western thought, Aristotle established the foundations for the modern scientific method of enquiry. Statue

Philosophers to Know, Part I

Philosophers to Know, Part II

Discover

Close up of books. Stack of books, pile of books, literature, reading. Homepage 2010, arts and entertainment, history and society

12 Novels Considered the “Greatest Book Ever Written”

Illustration for Demystified "How Dangerous is Quicksand"

How Deadly Is Quicksand?

Dancers at a Cinco de Mayo festival at the Mission District, San Francisco, California. (Photo dated 2019.) holidays

Is Cinco de Mayo Mexico's Independence Day?

Figure 13: A Maxim machine gun, belt-fed and water-cooled, operated by German infantrymen, World War I.

7 Deadliest Weapons in History

Amendments 1-10 to the Constitution of the United States constitute what is known as the Bill of Rights on an American flag.

What Is the Emoluments Clause?

Berries and leaves of the bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara) plant. Poisonous plant

7 of the World’s Deadliest Plants

Shadow of a man holding large knife in his hand inside of some dark, spooky buiding

7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers

Occam’s razor: Facts & Related Content

Written and fact-checked by The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Facts

Also Known As	law of parsimony • law of economy • Ockham’s razor

Photos

William of Ockham

See All Images →

Topics

Hanlon’s razor ontology essentialism ontological argument existence individuation

Key People

William of Ockham

English philosopher