Jump to content

Welcome to Geeks to Go - Register now for FREE

Need help with your computer or device? Want to learn new tech skills? You're in the right place!
Geeks to Go is a friendly community of tech experts who can solve any problem you have. Just create a free account and post your question. Our volunteers will reply quickly and guide you through the steps. Don't let tech troubles stop you. Join Geeks to Go now and get the support you need!

How it Works Create Account
Photo

Occam's razor


  • Please log in to reply

#1
hfcg

hfcg

    The hippie freak computer geek

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,496 posts

Occam's razor (sometimes spelled Ockham's razor) is a principle attributed to the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham. The principle states that the explanation of any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible, eliminating those that make no difference in the observable predictions of the explanatory hypothesis or theory. The principle is often expressed in Latin as the lex parsimoniae ("law of parsimony" or "law of succinctness"): "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem", roughly translated as "entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity". An alternative version "Pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate" translates "plurality should not be posited without necessity". [1]

This is often paraphrased as "All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.

Originally a tenet of the reductionist philosophy of nominalism, it is more often taken today as an heuristic maxim (rule of thumb) that advises economy, parsimony, or simplicity, often or especially in scientific theories.

This applies to computer troubleshooting as well.
Look for the simple answer with out adding things to complicate the issue.
If you get a blue screen look for the most recent changes E.G.driver updates, software updates, new software, new hardware.
If the computer shuts off by itself after a very short time look for heat issues before you replace the power supply.
  • 0

Advertisements


#2
Titan8990

Titan8990

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,189 posts
AKA: KIS - Keep it simple.
  • 0

#3
PedroDaGR8

PedroDaGR8

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 786 posts

AKA: KIS - Keep it simple.


Why was I always told KISS = Keep It Simple, Stupid. I wonder if they were saying something :)
  • 0

#4
hfcg

hfcg

    The hippie freak computer geek

  • Topic Starter
  • Member
  • PipPipPipPipPip
  • 2,496 posts
The second S was left off so as not to be offensive.
  • 0

#5
PedroDaGR8

PedroDaGR8

    Member

  • Member
  • PipPipPip
  • 786 posts

The second S was left off so as not to be offensive.

Ugh, that was obvious this morning. Wasn't last night, heh. That's what I get for posting sleep deprived. By the way. Hello from a fellow Kentuckian (Lexington here).
  • 0






Similar Topics

0 user(s) are reading this topic

0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users

As Featured On:

Microsoft Yahoo BBC MSN PC Magazine Washington Post HP