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id: 2026-01-09T16:28:00
aliases: []
title: 2026-01-09 16:28:??
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# 2026-01-09 16:28:??

### Occam's razor

> [!info] Also Known As
> * the principle of parsimony
> * the law of parsimony

recommends searching for explanations constructed with the smallest possible set of elements.
Attributed to William of Ockham, 14th-century English philosopher and theologian.

> _Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem_
> ("Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity")

> "Of two competing theories, the simpler explanation is to be preferred."

> [!quote] [[klugman-et-al_2019_loss-models#4.2 The Role of Parameters]]
> The principle of parsimony states that the simplest model
> that adequately reflects reality should be used.