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Ockham's Razor is one of the most widely used [[ontological principle|ontological principles]] in all fields of applied logic, most notably [[philosophy]], [[theology]], and [[systemology]]. It is attributed to [[William of Ockham]], an English Franciscan Friar who lived in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centirues.  Briefly, it can be stated as follows:

'''Ockham's Razor''' is one of the most widely used [[ontological principle|ontological principles]] in all fields of applied logic, most notably [[philosophy]], [[theology]], and [[systemology]]. It is attributed to [[William of Ockham]], an English Franciscan [[Friar]] who lived in the late thirteenth and early fourteenth centuries.  Briefly, it can be stated as follows:

'From any set of equally probable explanations, we should assume the one which makes the least [[fundamental assumptions]] is correct, until we have reason to believe otherwise'

'From any set of equally probable explanations, we should assume the one which makes the least [[fundamental assumptions]] is correct, until we have reason to believe otherwise'

[[John Wisdom]] and [[Anthony Flew]] indirectly use the razor in [[The Parable of the Gardener]].

[[John Wisdom]] and [[Anthony Flew]] indirectly use the razor in [[The Parable of the Gardener]].

Among its practical applications, Occam's Razor has been used by both sides in the debate between theism and atheism. Let us take for an example the origin of intelligent life on Earth. One possibility for intelligent life is evolution via natural selection. A second possibility is God. Advocates of the Anthropic Principle might contend that evolution is the means through which God works. However, Occam's Razor allows us to eliminate God from the hypothesis, since the idea is an unnecessary assumption. The 'simpler' explanation (that which makes fewer fundamental assumptions) is that God had nothing to do with the development of Intelligent Life and that it came about as a result of natural processes. Therefore, the earlier explanation is the most reasonable to believe. Of course proponents of theistic evolution might include a different scenario.  Let us assume a man needs to go from Boise Idaho to Billings Montana. He sets off and through an incredible stroke of luck just happens to walk from Boise to Billings - or he got a map and a compass and then walked.  Well, using a map and compass are extra steps, therefore, based upon the same logic used above, it is evident the man merely walked it and just happened to get from Boise to Billings through chance.  

Among its practical applications, Occam's Razor has been used by both sides in the debate between [[theism]] and [[atheism]]. Let us take for an example the origin of intelligent life on Earth. One possibility for intelligent life is [[evolution]] via [[natural selection]]. A second possibility is God. Advocates of the Anthropic Principle might contend that evolution is the means through which God works. However, Occam's Razor allows us to eliminate God from the hypothesis, since the idea is an unnecessary assumption. The 'simpler' explanation (that which makes fewer fundamental assumptions) is that God had nothing to do with the development of Intelligent Life and that it came about as a result of natural processes. Therefore, the earlier explanation is the most reasonable to believe. Of course proponents of theistic evolution might include a different scenario.  Let us assume a man needs to go from Boise Idaho to Billings Montana. He sets off and through an incredible stroke of luck just happens to walk from Boise to Billings - or he got a map and a compass and then walked.  Well, using a map and compass are extra steps, therefore, based upon the same logic used above, it is evident the man merely walked it and just happened to get from Boise to Billings through chance.  

[[Category:Ontological Principles]]

[[Category:Ontological Principles]]