Occam's Razor
Ockham's Razor · Law of Parsimony
A problem-solving principle which says that all else being equal, the simplest solution is more often the correct one.
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Origin
Though similar sentiments can be traced back to Aristotle ("the more limited, if adequate, is always preferable"), Ptolemy, and Isaac Newton, the modern aphorism is attributed to William of Occam, a 14th century English theologian, logician, and Franciscan friar. He wrote in Latin: "Numquam ponenda est pluralitas sine necessitate," or "Plurality must never be posited without necessity (source)."