“Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem” is a Latin phrase that means “Entities should not be multiplied beyond necessity” in English. This principle is often attributed to William of Ockham, a philosopher and theologian who lived in the 14th century. It is known as Occam’s Razor.
Occam’s Razor suggests that when there are competing hypotheses or explanations, the simplest one with the fewest assumptions should be preferred. In other words, if there are multiple possible explanations for a phenomenon, the one that requires the fewest additional assumptions is likely the most accurate or valid.
This principle is widely used in various fields such as science, philosophy, and problem-solving as a heuristic or guideline for making decisions and choosing between competing theories. It emphasizes the importance of simplicity and parsimony in constructing explanations and theories.
