Occam's Razor: Why The Easy Solution Is The Best One

Occam’s razor is the problem-solving principle that advocates for simplicity when evaluating competing hypotheses or explanations. Otherwise known as the law of parsimony, this mental model serves to eliminate improbable options in a given solution. It states “Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity.” In simple terms, this means we should select the explanation with the fewest assumptions: the simplest explanation is preferable to one that is complex.

Simple theories are easy to verify. Simple solutions are easy to implement. We should avoid looking for unnecessary complexity and focus on what works in the given circumstances. Occam’s razor finds it’s use in a range of situations, serving for rapid and relatively accurate decision-making. It’s most useful for forming conclusions and establishing truths before you get access to the full scope of information or before you evaluate it. The law is distinct in that it stresses simplicity above all else. You wouldn’t be wrong to call it a principle of minimalism: less is more. Using the minimal energy to move or heat an object like a car or home is a good, real-life example supporting Occam’s razor. Habits formed by repeating the same action in response to the same cue and reward, and the strengthened neural pathway as a result, is yet another notebook case.

Occam’s razor frequently gets used by scientists. Because the simpler a hypothesis is, the more easily it can be proved or falsified. Complex explanations for phenomena that involve many factors can be difficult to test or hinder how repeatable the experiment is. Getting funding for proving or disproving simpler hypotheses is also easier, since they are cheaper to test. Thus the simplest solution consistent with the existing data is preferred and chosen. Researchers always pick the simplest solution the contemporary data permits. Generally, when you have two competing theories that make the same predictions, the simpler one is better.

Most well-known academics reckoned with Occam’s razor when developing their theories. Albert Einstein referred to it when tinkering with his theory of special relativity: “Everything should be as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Physicist, author, and cosmologist Stephen Hawking advocated it in A Brief History of Time: “It seems better to employ the principle known as Occam’s razor and cut out all the features of the theory that cannot be observed.” Isaac Newton used it too and sought to make his laws of motion as simple as possible, stating: “We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.”

Doctors use it too, looking for the fewest possible causes to explain their patient’s symptoms, and give preference to the likely causes. A person with a headache and vision problems are not thrown in magnetic-resonance imaging scanners to determine whether they have a brain tumor: they pop an Ibuprofen. Similarly, someone suffering influenza-like symptoms would be considered likely to have the flu, not an alternative, rare disease. Minimal diagnoses reduce the risk of over-treating patients, causing panic and potential dangerous side-effects of some treatments. Employ the same lens as a patient. The most common and probable explanation for your symptoms is the simplest one.

Yet it is important to note Occam’s razor is not foolproof. Use it with care. This is critical to take into account when making high-stakes decisions. Sometimes the circumstances dictate that the simplest explanation is not the right one. Put simply, the world is more complicated than any of us can conceive. We cannot blindly stick to one mental model—especially one emphasizing simplicity—and hope it will correctly explain every event. The simpler explanation, although having a higher chance of correctness, is not always true. Occam’s razor is not a substitute for critical thinking: it’s a tool for you to think more efficiently.

Boiled down, Occam’s razor is a relatively easy concept. Simplicity often correlates with clarity and testability, thus it’s preferable. Plus, choosing simplicity over complexity is economical, focusing us on what’s essential. There’s no need to overcomplicate most things with unnecessary parameters. Complexity comes at a cost.

Real life implications of Occam’s razor:

• Science: the heliocentric model of the solar system—Earth and planets orbiting the sun—replaced the geocentric model—Earth at the center—because it explained celestial motion more simply, and the same is done for most of research, as hypotheses with fewer moving parts offer substantial explanatory power;

• Medical diagnosis: a person with a mild headache is more likely to be dehydrated rather than suffering from a rare neurological disease, thus it’s better to concentrate on probable causes before considering exotic possibilities;

• Business: if sales decline, start by investigating straightforward reasons like pricing, recent advertisement campaigns, or customer experience before you blame it on convoluted market movements;

• Software: a bug in your program is more likely due to the recent changes in code rather than a systemic hardware failure, so start by isolating the simplest, most immediate potential causes, and only move on once those are taken out of the question;

• The day-to-day: if you lost your keys or cannot find your phone, the object is most likely in a common area that you often visit like the kitchen or bathroom, rather than in an obscure location you rarely go to;

• Legal: an important document is more likely misplaced and not destroyed maliciously unless evidence shows otherwise, and your case would be made stronger by concentrating around practical, simpler explanations;

• Conflict: a friend or partner who does not immediately respond to your messages is likely just busy or distracted and not intentionally ignoring you.

How you might use Occam’s razor as a mental model: (1) evaluate your assumptions, identifying and reducing unnecessary explanations for things, boiling them down to the most straightforward solutions that fit the facts; (2) compare alternatives, prioritizing explanations that require the least speculation and extra components; (3) eliminate unnecessary components, getting rid of everything that does not contribute to the core solution; (4) favor not only the simpler, but the easily testable explanations and get testing as fast as possible; (5) beware of oversimplification, ensuring that your solution covers the entire problem and not just part of it; (6) iterate and refine, continuously simplifying and streamlining your processes as you apply the model in practice. For instance, when diagnosing why a server is experiencing downtime, first assume that it was caused by a software update applied earlier that day than a sophisticated cyberattack. This way, the issue can be resolved without wasting resources on unlikely scenarios.

Thought-provoking insights. “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” Leonardo da Vinci highlights the elegance that comes with paring down to essentials. “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it is most likely a duck.” directly aligns with the principle of minimizing assumptions. The essence of Occam’s razor is to distill actions and thoughts to their core purpose. Recognize that the simplest and easiest explanation is going to be correct a lot of the time.

Questions to reflect on:

1. How can I ensure my explanations err toward the simple side, or are at least not overly complicated?

2. How could Occam's razor improve my communication and perhaps make my messages and ideas clearer to others?

3. Can I prioritize simplicity and clarity? In which aspects of my life?

4. What are the potential risks of oversimplifying a situation? What about overthinking? How can I mitigate and strike a balance between both?

5. How do I strike an equilibrium of accuracy and simplicity while analyzing complex issues?

Quotes to keep you up at night:

1. "Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity." William of Ockham, English friar and philosopher.

2. "Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler." - Albert Einstein, theoretical physicist.

3. "When you hear hoofbeats, think of horses, not zebras." - Medical adage.

4. "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." - Leonardo da Vinci, Italian polymath.

Example use cases:

1. Medical diagnoses: doctors use Occam's razor to diagnose patients by considering the most common and straightforward explanation for symptoms before exploring rare and/or complex cases. A physician will take a common cold diagnosis based on typical symptoms faster than immediately considering that a headache is due to a brain tumor.

2. Scientific research: scientists use Occam's razor to develop hypotheses and theories without overcomplicating them: the fewer explanations and assumptions are required, the better.

3. Business: leaders apply Occam's razor to streamline operations and decision-making processes, reducing unnecessary complexities and concentrating on core objectives. Steve Jobs famously simplified Apple's product line to concentrate on a few high-quality products, which contributed to the giant's success.

4. Investigative journalism: journalists use Occam's razor to uncover the truth behind stories by considering the simplest and most straightforward explanations for events and eliminating unnecessary complexity. Carl Bernstein used Occam's razor to piece together the Watergate scandal.