Occam’s Razor

History of Occam’s Razor

William of Ockham (also spelled Occam) was a Franciscan theologian born in Surrey, England, around 1285. He studied at Oxford and later at Paris. His philosophical views made him a polemic scholar. He died in Munich, Germany, around 1349.

Although the general idea of the preference for simplicity is attributed to William of Ockham, there are some precedents. Some writings by Duns Scoto, Ockham’s teacher, mention similar principles. A french Dominican named Durand de Saint-Pourcain used this idea before. Even earlier, Aristotle made statements such as “nature operates in the shortest way possible”, “the more limited, if adequate, is always preferable”, and “if the consequences are the same it is always better to assume the more limited antecedent”.

In the history of Science we find the principle has often been cited to argue in favor of one theory over others. It has played an especially successful role in physics. One example is the preference for Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation over Kepler’s laws of planetary motion. Although both theories made essentially the same predictions about the motions of the planets, Newton’s law is simpler and more general, requiring fewer assumptions, and was hence preferred. Newton’s theory was later empirically confirmed when its predictions led to the discovery of the planet Neptune.

An earlier application of Occam’s Razor, also in astronomy, was the controversy between heliocentric and geocentric models of the solar system. Ptolemy explained the observed movement of the stars using a rather complex model with the Earth in the center, and the planets orbiting around invisible spheres which themselves were orbiting around the Earth. Aristarco of Samos in Greece, and later Copernicus, convincingly argued for a simpler model in which the sun is in the center and the planets orbit around it.

Icy pouring rain

Icy pouring rain

icy pouring rain

icy pouring rain…

zippy the pinhead and jack chick tracts

found on the floor at random

I couldn’t have found something like that

if I’d had amillion years

but I wasn’t trying

If I overgift someone it is because they are expected to share, so

Beware if I ever give you books for a present…

If you know someone I’ve given books to

by all means make them share

As that was probably the point.

You all must read “Waking the Dead”

My channel’s set on random

sorry

Goodnight,all

corbid

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention the following…

Gallery Silver Sea Grand Opening and Art Show: November 20th, 8pm at Silver Sea, 137 E. Congress:This will be the official grand opening of Gallery Silver Sea, a pioneering concept in expanding the parameters of the Tucson Arts District while simultaneously promoting Downtown small business. This could be the future of Rio Nuevo development, the key to a successful and vital Downtown. Then again, it might just be a pleasant evening featuring wine and cheese and jovial company while admiring the work of talented, up and coming local artists. Also, it will be hosted by pretty girls who have shiny things to sell. Art will be displayed from November 20th to December 20th. Silver Sea is located Downtown near the intersection of Congress and 6th Avenue, snuggly nested between Hydra and Oscar Wilde Playhouse. You should do your Christmas shopping while you’re there. Hematite rings make lovely stocking stuffers and you can never give out too many gift candles…No, i’m not biased in the least…

Fun with Airmen part 2

Went to a bar last night to meet some friends. Witnessed a male air force officer and a woman in a black pantsuit nearly get into a fistfight over the war. Not the rightness or wrongness of it, either. They were arguing over whether the air force officer at the bar or the woman’s air force officer husband had “done more for the cause of freedom.” Incidentally, I wonder how the woman hoped to further the cause of freedom by hanging out in a bar displaying ample cleavage and hanging all over a man who was NOT her husband while said husband is overseas fighting “for freedom.” Anyway, as the two of them sparred I tried to offer myself as a sacrificial lamb, but no one bit:

“I’m against the war ENTIRELY! I voted for Gore! I was against the last Gulf war also!”

One tries to do one’s part…

America The Clueless

George W. Bush wants to “spread freedom” like it’s some kind of virus. The election’s in a dead heat. I can’t believe it’s a dead heat. I can’t believe people can’t see through this guy. I overheard a woman at work in the bathroom yesterday saying she was a registered Democrat, but she’d vote for Bush because she’d “heard John Kerry was a flipflopper on issues.” She heard it somewhere, probably didn’t even know what was meant by it and chose to change her vote on such a flimsy basis as that. What the hell is wrong with people? Why are Americans so willfully ignorant? Maybe the voters deserve what they get. Maybe it’s time to move to Canada.

Forward to the Blog: Silver Sea Fall Calendar

From: “Lady Elizabeth Amalthia Sterling”

Date: 2004/10/15 Fri PM 02:00:03 EDT

To: SilverSeaSiren@yahoogroups.com

Subject: [SilverSeaSiren] Silver Sea Happenings!!!

The happening’s at the store that we have scheduled are as

follows :

Oct.16th- Club Crawl (street wide event)

Silver Sea features Live Music, Tarot Readings and Lollipops. Open till 1am

No Cover- wristband or no- there is no cost for this venue.

Oct. 30- Nightmare on Congress (street wide event)

Open late with Trick or Treating and specials and guest

performance artists.

No Cover.

Nov. 20- Gallery Silver Sea (in store event)

Gallery opening featuring promising *new* local artists.

Opening at 8pm. Work will be displayed from Nov. 20 thru

Dec. 20th. Gallery coordinator Suzzie Trouble.

No cover.

Nov. 27th- Open performance circle 8-10 pm

All performance mediums welcome! Low-key and non-sress way

to get some performance in or try it out for the first

time. All skill levels and styles welcome. We take turns

and go round the room, usually we keep it within 5 min or so

then switch to another person. Recording services will be

available from “The Basement Studios” (for a fee) if you

wish. The event has no cover charge itself 🙂 Yay 🙂

WWKCD?

I am posing a new challenge to the readers of this blog in the tradition of “What would Jesus do?”

I want you to think deeply about the following in any given difficult situation: What Would Kurt Cobain Do?

Meditate on this and act accordingly, within reason, of course.

Thank you and goodnight.

The Corbidful One.