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"Occam's Razor," in one formulation, says that we should accept the simplest view that adequately explains the facts. Russell's version says:
{ 1 } - "When possible, replace an inferred entity with a logical fiction."
{ 2 } - "Accept the smallest number of simple undefined things and the smallest number of undemonstrated premises that you need to define the things that need to be defined and prove the things that need to be proved."
{ 3 } - Russell uses both of these ideas.
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Directions: Click on a number from 1 to 3.
1 is wrong. Please try again.
"Occam's Razor," in one formulation, says that we should accept the simplest view that adequately explains the facts. Russell's version says:
{ 1 } - "When possible, replace an inferred entity with a logical fiction."
{ 2 } - "Accept the smallest number of simple undefined things and the smallest number of undemonstrated premises that you need to define the things that need to be defined and prove the things that need to be proved."
{ 3 } - Russell uses both of these ideas.
Russell thought that these maxims help us to play it safe and thus reduce errors.
For example, suppose that we can get away with just positing sensations -- instead of positing both sensations and material objects. The gain is that we needn't go out on the limb about whether material objects really exist -- and thus we avoid a belief that may in fact be false.
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2 is wrong. Please try again.
"Occam's Razor," in one formulation, says that we should accept the simplest view that adequately explains the facts. Russell's version says:
{ 1 } - "When possible, replace an inferred entity with a logical fiction."
{ 2 } - "Accept the smallest number of simple undefined things and the smallest number of undemonstrated premises that you need to define the things that need to be defined and prove the things that need to be proved."
{ 3 } - Russell uses both of these ideas.
Russell thought that these maxims help us to play it safe and thus reduce errors.
For example, suppose that we can get away with just positing sensations -- instead of positing both sensations and material objects. The gain is that we needn't go out on the limb about whether material objects really exist -- and thus we avoid a belief that may in fact be false.
<= back | menu | forward =>
3 is correct!
"Occam's Razor," in one formulation, says that we should accept the simplest view that adequately explains the facts. Russell's version says:
{ 1 } - "When possible, replace an inferred entity with a logical fiction."
{ 2 } - "Accept the smallest number of simple undefined things and the smallest number of undemonstrated premises that you need to define the things that need to be defined and prove the things that need to be proved."
{ 3 } - Russell uses both of these ideas.
Russell thought that these maxims help us to play it safe and thus reduce errors.
For example, suppose that we can get away with just positing sensations -- instead of positing both sensations and material objects. The gain is that we needn't go out on the limb about whether material objects really exist -- and thus we avoid a belief that may in fact be false.
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