Occam's Razor states that "entities should not be multiplied uneccessarily".When competing hypotheses are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selection of the hypothesis that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest entities while still sufficiently answering the question.
In science, parsimony is preference for the least complex explanation for an observation. This is generally regarded as good when judging hypotheses.
Marco's razor states that in cases of imperfect and only circumstantial evidence, entities should be added/multiplied to obtain hypotheses that explain the most unusual aspects of the limited circumstantial evidence available.
Marcomony is a preference for explanations which explain the most about the variability of observations, even if the observations fit within a simpler explanation.
These rules of thumb are ideal for game theory in the analysis of geopolitics. These are the reasons:
1) There really are more entities in these situations. By introducing "representative" entities one at a time to the simplest models, more of the circumstancial evidence can make a best fit.
2)With some entities actively keeping secrets and there being interdependencies more of the information is partial/uncertain.
For game theory in the analysis of geopolitics eg. the Israel-Palestine conflict is simplified to a two entity game in game theory and most arm-chair strategy discussions. A simple addition of a third entity keeps the overall strategy simple enough for the layperson to examine and analyse while explaining better the unusual aspects of the conflict (in this case, the multi-generational longevity of the conflict, the lack of success from mediators)
In evolutionary science occam's razor seems to have been liberally used to simplify explanation of evolution. These have evolved to a raft of "rules", such as the Weismann Barrier, Central Dogma of evolution etc. which are taken as gospel within scientific papers. Challenges to these "rules" are taken as challenges to the overall theory of evolution, which they need not be.
The main motivation with these improved rules of thumb is to:
a) Avoid cliched science such that researchers do not truthify the oversimplifications that are the norm in the reporting of science.
b) Avoid the human instinct to extend the presumption of innocence/truth-telling to dicussions irrelevant to the enforcement or judgement of law.
Another example is the choice between exogenesis and geogenesis theories. All we have as evidence that pertains to this is circumstancial and imperfect. The usual rules of thumb dictate that geogenesis is the least complex explanation. There is no real "data" to fit into a model, but exogenesis explains more of the unusual aspects of the properties of dna based life.
6 comments:
Want 'zample!
Er, I mean, would you be able to give us an example of Marco's Razor in action, please?
I am just going to expand on this entry as I go - It is definitely my next Principia entry, which will be used as a prelude to my exogenesis, lamarckism, Israel-palestine etc. entries.
'Marcomony is a preference for explanations which explain the most about the variability of observations, even if the observations fit within a simpler explanation.'
Hrrm, hrrm... I don't see how the observations 'fit within' the simpler explanation if there is a residuum to be explained by a more complicated explanation. Doesn't the explanation fit within the observations, with some observations hanging over the side? I don't think the theory that contains 95% of the observations is necessarily a better theory than the theory that contains 85% of the observations: it might be a hundred times more complicated and correspondingly more difficult to apply in a predictive way- which is what we want a model for. A model that 90% of voters can apply that gives good results 85% of the time is a better model than a model that only 1% of voters can apply that gives good results 95% of the time.
Long time no hear from... like me, have you decided that life is short, thus trying to figure out best courses of action that will never be implemented is a worthless use of our time, and it is better to concentrate on the eternal verities... in hopes of leaving something that will still be of value for whatever future generation might regain their collective sanity?
I just seem to have no time to blog :( However, every spare minute I have been preparing y next entry :)
I heard on the radio this morning that the director of 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off' had died- bringing back memories of what *really* happens when you stand on top of the railing at the top of the Sears Tower... ;)
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