A simple theory is more readily falsifiable than a complicated one since it will encompass more cases and will more closely reflect the connectedness of the natural world. An elegant scientific formulation combines paired-down-to-the-bone simplicity with formal precision, and neglects none of the data. Simplicity alone will not justify one competing theory over another.
14th Century churchman, William of Ockham
SOURCES FOR OCCAM'S RAZOR
JACOB BRONOWSKI
Polish born, British Mathematician and Polymath (1908-1974)
A fundamental tenet for Jacob Bronowski is the notion of the total connectedness of the universe. According to Bronowski (1978: 108) significant progress in science always implies the discovery of new connections and a broadening of the “symbolism of the language” which “is found to be richer than had been supposed.” For Bronowski, “symbolism, language, scientific formulae here are all synonymous.” He proposes a nuanced view (1978: 88) of Occam’s razor as it applies to scientific formulations: the simpler the hypotheses, the fewer the hypotheses, the more they are to be preferred. And that is saying the same thing as that, if nature is totally connected, then we should prefer those languages or systems which show the highest connection, not because they do in fact show the connections in nature, but because they are coming closest to it.
Bronowski, Jacob (1978) The Origins of Knowledge and Imagination. Yale University Press, Princeton.
Here is the original version of Einstein's perspective on Occam's Razor:
It can scarcely be denied that the supreme goal of all theory is to make the irreducible basic elements as simple as possible without having to surrender the adequate representation of a single data of experience.
Einstein, Albert (1934: 165) On the Method of Theoretical Physics. The Herbert Spencer Lecture delivered at Oxford, June 10, 1933. Oxford University Press, New York.
ALBERT EINSTEIN
[1879-1955]
