Razor (philosophy)
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In philosophy, a razor is a principle or rule of thumb that allows one to eliminate unlikely explanations for a phenomenon.
Razors include:
- Occam's razor: When faced with competing hypotheses, select the one that makes the fewest assumptions. Do not multiply necessities without good reason.
- Hanlon's razor: Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity.
- Hume's razor: "If the cause, assigned for any effect, be not sufficient to produce it, we must either reject that cause, or add to it such qualities as will give it a just proportion to the effect"
- Hitchens' razor: The burden of proof or onus in a debate lies with the claim-maker, and if he or she does not meet it, the opponent does not need to argue against the unfounded claim.
- Newton's flaming laser sword (or Alder's razor): If something cannot be settled by experiment then it is not worthy of debate.
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