Tag Archives: Occam’s razor

Don’t cherry pick your experts

Posted on August 26, 2019 by Fallacy Man

The appeal to authority fallacy is one of the most common logical fallacies in internet debates. It is a favorite tactic among climate change deniers, anti-vaccers, young earth creationists, and pretty much anyone else who rejects “mainstream” science. I previously … Continue reading →

Posted in Global Warming, Rules of Logic | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Occam’s razor is about assumptions, not simplicity

Posted on June 26, 2018 by Fallacy Man

Occam’s razor is an important tool for critical thinking, and it is employed constantly in science. Nevertheless, it is often misunderstood and is frequently (and erroneously) stated as, “the simplest solution is usually the correct one.” This is an unfortunate … Continue reading →

Posted in Rules of Logic | Tagged , , , | 26 Comments

The Rules of Logic Part 5: Occam’s Razor and the Burden of Proof

Posted on February 25, 2015 by Fallacy Man

Occam’s razor, also known as the principle of maximum parsimony, is one of the fundamental guiding principles in both logic and science. It is commonly explained as, “the simplest solution is usually the correct one.” More accurately, it states that, … Continue reading →

Posted in Nature of Science, Rules of Logic | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments