Classic philosophical thinking tool: "Okham Razor", the underlying logic of this thinking tool

Author:Liu Xiaoshang Time:2022.08.22

Hello everyone, today we continue to share the philosophy of European philosophers, Okham. Earlier, we introduced Okham Razor: "If there is no need, don't increase the entity." The core idea of ​​this sentence is not pursuing pure simple, but intuitive. In fact, this sentence is not a methodology or ideological system in a strict sense, but just a principle or idea.

In the context of Okham, how did Okam propose this principle? In "Logic", Okham proposed this principle when discussing the source of "concept". Aristotle said that the word is a symbol of the soul impression. This symbol has different names. Some people are called: the intention of the soul; some people are called: the impression of the soul; Essence We call these things "concepts". How did the concept come from?

Okham said that some people believe that the concept is made or shaped by the soul. Some people think that the concept is a certain nature of different behaviors, it exists in the soul, just like it exists in the subject. And some think that the concept is an understanding of understanding. Which explanation is correct? Okham said that the last view was supported by the following principle, so we should believe it.

This principle is: if people can do less things, they should not be assumed to have more things.

Okham means how the concept came from, and the first explanation, if we assumed the "concept" as the heart, then we need to further explain how the soul is created; the second explanation, if the second explanation is, if you are The "concept" assumption is different from our understanding of behaviors, then we need to further explain the difference between the concept and understanding, how they arise in the soul, and so on.

And only the last interpretation, that is, when "concept" is regarded as the behavior of our understanding itself, that is, the concept is part of our understanding. Carm believes that the last explanation is the closest to correct. But when Okham said this principle, there was actually no strict demonstration, but instead regarded it as a principle of unknown self -confidence.

So why can Okham take it as a principle that does not prove itself? Why is the less conclusion that the less prerequisite?

We usually understand that the less the prerequisite for a conclusion, the greater the probability of the correct conclusion. For example, I said that Shenzhen will be raining tomorrow, or I say that it will rain tomorrow Nanshan District, Shenzhen. Among these two propositions, the correct rate of the previous proposition is greater, because in the subsequent propositions, the prerequisite of "Nanshan District" is added, and the conditions are stricter, and the correct probability is even smaller. This is the less condition we usually understand, the more likely it is.

However, the principle of Okham razor is not in the sense of probability. If this is the case, then we just say something big, or say nothing, obviously this is not the case. In addition, the principle of Okham razor is not just pursuing pure "simple". If it is simple, then the reason for any problem is explained as God, or a certain supernatural power. The fundamental pursuit of the principle of Okham is "direct or intuitive", which is more accurate "intuitive".

Intuition and simplicity are different. As we introduced earlier, we can understand intuitiveness as facts, or based on real phenomena, and simplicity also includes the process of thinking and reasoning. They are different. For example, the example we introduced earlier, my boyfriend is late, according to the principle of Okham razor, because it is more credible because of the rain and traffic jam, not because he does not love his girlfriend anymore. Because it can be intuitive, and love or not in love cannot be intuitive, but it is based on reasoning, imagination, or emotional preference. Therefore, Okham razor is pursuing intuition, not pure and simple.

In real life, Okham Razor is also a sharp thinking tool, let's take a look at an example. One day when he went to school, Xiao Ming stepped on his classmate Xiao Wang when he went to the stairs, and then Xiao Wang kicked back, kicked Xiaoming under the stairs, and fell. Xiaoming's parents knew this, so he went to school to find a teacher. The teacher also called Xiao Wang's parents to the office. What caused Xiao Wang to kick Xiaoming? The teacher believes that things are not so simple. Then, the teacher carefully reviewed Xiao Wang's various poor performance in school in recent years, as well as the family environment of the divorced of Xiao Wang's parents, and the teacher also heard that Xiao Wang's father had family violence. Essence

In the end, the teacher listed the major guilt of Xiao Wang and the psychological mechanism behind it. For example, Xiao Wang had a tendency to violence and revenge. It may be because Xiao Wang was jealous of Xiaoming's recent academic performance, and waited for the opportunity to retaliate, and the teachers all all. It seems that some evidence is given. And Xiao Wang's parents insisted that Xiao Wang was a simple instinct. He was stepped on by his classmates, and then kicked back instinctively. Just on the stairs, Xiao Ming fell down the stairs and caused a fracture. Essence

Compared with the explanation of the teacher and Xiao Wang's parents, which kind of explanation do you believe? According to the principle of Okham razor, of course, we should believe the latter explanation. Because it seems that the previous interpretation has the theoretical foundation and the facts support, but in fact the reasoning process inside is too complicated, and there are many prerequisites and subjective conjectures. But in this scene, the latter explanation is the most direct and intuitive. One person stepped on another, and then the other kicked back, which fits the normal behavior mode of a child. Therefore, Okham razor is not pursuing pure "simple", but intuitive. If we are pursuing simple, then we think that Xiao Wang is a bad child, then the reason why he kicked Xiaoming, but this is not "intuitive intuitive intuitive "Because bad children or good children, this is a moral quality judgment. This judgment involves many concepts and reasoning. This process is not intuitive.

Let's return to Okham Razor Principles: If there is no need, don't increase the entity. This sentence is actually not exactly the original intention of Okham. Okham's original words are: If people can do less things, they should not have more things. Okham's meaning is not just "don't increase entity", but not adding additional phenomena, ideas, reasoning, premise, and so on.

Why can Okham put forward the principle of this? Because Okham is a philosopher in the "only famous theory" in the European century, the basic proposition of the only name is that the concept and co -phase are not realistic, not a entity. Therefore, in depth to understand the principle of Okham razor, we must return to Okham's philosophy. In the next issue, we will officially enter the philosophical world of Okham to see the philosophical foundation behind Okham razors. Essence

Well, this is the content of today. If you like my content, please like the collection and continue to pay attention to me. We will see you next issue.

- END -

Why does Li Shangyin love "Untitled" poems?The answer makes people sigh

One stringThere is a question on Zhihu called What is a stunning name?I have seen ...

Xiangxian feelings 丨 This big technology coffee sent a different "granary" to his hometown!

Recently, Pan Zhigeng, the chief scientist of the National Key R D Plan Project, ...