Cognitive Scaffold

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MENTAL MODEL · M1905

Occam's Razor

Occam's Razor
StructureHigh supportLogic
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Version 1.0.0 · Updated 2026-07-30

CORE DEFINITION

A methodological principle proposed by William of Ockham: entities should not be multiplied without necessity. When explaining phenomena, one should prefer the theory with the fewest assumptions and the simplest explanation.

SCAFFOLDING EFFECT

psychology

Reduce cognitive load

In philosophy, Occam's razor (also spelled Ockham's razor or Ocham's razor; Latin: novacula Occami) is the problem-solving principle that recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements. It is also known as the principle of parsimony or the law of parsimony.

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Anchor fast decisions

Simpler hypotheses are easier to falsify and test; overly complex hypotheses often overfit, obscuring true causality and increasing cognitive and communication costs.

MINIMUM ACTION

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Source support: Explicit

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    en.wikipedia.orghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razorZH · Explicit
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