Simple or simplistic? Scientists' views on Occam's razor

dc.contributor.author	Riesch, Hauke
dc.date.accessioned	2020-01-29T17:27:46Z
dc.date.available	2020-01-29T17:27:46Z
dc.date.issued	2010
dc.identifier.citation	Theoria 25(1) : 75-90 (2010)
dc.identifier.issn	2171-679X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10810/39412
dc.description.abstract	This paper presents a discourse analysis of 30 popular science books and 40 semi-structured interviews with scientists on their views of Occam's razor and simplicity. It finds that there are many different interpretations and thoughts about the precise meaning of the principle as well as many scientists who reject it outright, or only a very limited version. In light of the variation of scientists' opinions, the paper asks what use it has as a rhetorical device and how scientists' interpretation of Occam's razor impacts on the study of popular science and affects the communication between philosophy and science.
dc.language.iso	eng
dc.publisher	Servicio Editorial de la Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatearen Argitalpen Zerbitzua
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.title	Simple or simplistic? Scientists' views on Occam's razor
dc.type	info:eu-repo/semantics/article
dc.rights.holder	© 2010, Servicio Editorial de la Universidad del País Vasco Euskal Herriko Unibertsitateko Argitalpen Zerbitzua