William of Ockham · Philosophy

Ockham’s Razor: Never Multiply Without Necessity

The principle of parsimony as a rule of reasoning: do not posit more entities, causes, or assumptions than the facts actually require. Ockham never wrote the famous words ‘entities must not be multiplied,’ but he wielded the real principle to shave the crowded metaphysics of his age down to the bone.

What you'll be able to recall

You learned that Ockham’s razor is a rule of reasoning - ‘plurality is never to be posited without necessity’ - and NOT the popular tag ‘entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity,’ which he never wrote. Explain the real principle, what counts as ‘necessity’ (reason, exp…

Leads to Aristotle.

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