3 Truth and Beauty
53
in Fig. 3.4. Likewise, physicists hope to explain the physical world with only
a few laws (or assumptions).
As assumptions may always be questioned, the fewer assumptions, the
more confidence we can have in the conclusions drawn from them. This
simple assertion is usually attributed to William of Ockham (c. 1287–c
1347), an English friar and theologian. However, the same, or a similar principle was already used by the ancient Greeks, e.g. Aristotle and Ptolemy.
Many other thinkers followed, before and after Ockham, with similar assertions, but either luck, or the empathy of some later philosopher, has granted
Ockham the honour of having his name associated with the criterion, which
is generally known as Occam’s (or Ockham’s) Razor. It is a rule of thumb,
rather than a scientific law. The basic idea is that from among competing
hypotheses that explain an observed result, the one that requires fewest
assumptions should be selected.
Fig. 3.4 Jan Cornelisz Sylvius, the Preacher, circa 1644–1645 by Rembrandt van Rijn,
circa 1627–1628. Pen and brown ink on laid paper, National Gallery of America,
Washington DC. Image: open access (https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.
45998.html (accessed 2020/9/11))
53
in Fig. 3.4. Likewise, physicists hope to explain the physical world with only
a few laws (or assumptions).
As assumptions may always be questioned, the fewer assumptions, the
more confidence we can have in the conclusions drawn from them. This
simple assertion is usually attributed to William of Ockham (c. 1287–c
1347), an English friar and theologian. However, the same, or a similar principle was already used by the ancient Greeks, e.g. Aristotle and Ptolemy.
Many other thinkers followed, before and after Ockham, with similar assertions, but either luck, or the empathy of some later philosopher, has granted
Ockham the honour of having his name associated with the criterion, which
is generally known as Occam’s (or Ockham’s) Razor. It is a rule of thumb,
rather than a scientific law. The basic idea is that from among competing
hypotheses that explain an observed result, the one that requires fewest
assumptions should be selected.
Fig. 3.4 Jan Cornelisz Sylvius, the Preacher, circa 1644–1645 by Rembrandt van Rijn,
circa 1627–1628. Pen and brown ink on laid paper, National Gallery of America,
Washington DC. Image: open access (https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.
45998.html (accessed 2020/9/11))