The principle may be expressed in different ways; in essence, it asserts that when faced with two or more alternative explanations to any problem the one requiring the least number of assumptions (i.e., is parsimonious) is most likely to be the correct one, or, at least, is to be preferred. It is also known as Occam's Razor, after the English Franciscan philosopher William Occam (c.1300-1349) who—though he did say, "Multimal entities should never be invoked unnecessarily"—meant something else from how it is understood in the principle of parsimony.
©ALBERITH
250116lch