It's Not So Simple: The Role of Simplicity in Science and Theory.
The principle of simplicity (parsimony) has long been invoked as a regulative principle that helps guide theory selection in science. However, it is unclear if there is justification for a globally applicable criterion of parsimony. This paper briefly reviews the salient features of what it means fo...
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| Format: | Others |
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Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University
2013
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| Online Access: | https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/97 https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1101&context=honors |
| Summary: | The principle of simplicity (parsimony) has long been invoked as a regulative principle that helps guide theory selection in science. However, it is unclear if there is justification for a globally applicable criterion of parsimony. This paper briefly reviews the salient features of what it means for something to be simple, as well as argues for simplicity as relevant only to a set of background assumptions. |
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