Occam's razor
Occam's Razor
Occam's Razor (pronounced: /ˈɒkəmz/), also known as Ockham's Razor, is a philosophical and scientific principle that suggests the simplest explanation or strategy tends to be the best one. The term originates from the Latin phrase "entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem", which translates to "entities should not be multiplied without necessity". This principle is named after the 14th-century English logician and Franciscan friar, William of Ockham.
Etymology
The term "Occam's Razor" comes from the name of William of Ockham, a Franciscan friar who was born in Ockham, a small village in Surrey, England. The "razor" refers to the act of cutting away unnecessary complications to arrive at the simplest explanation or theory.
Application in Medicine
In the field of medicine, Occam's Razor is often applied in the process of diagnosis. When there are multiple possible explanations for a patient's symptoms, the simplest explanation is often the most likely. This principle is also known as diagnostic parsimony. However, it's important to note that while Occam's Razor is a useful tool in medical diagnosis, it is not infallible and should not replace comprehensive medical evaluation and testing.
Related Terms
- Parsimony: The quality of being careful with resources or expenses; in scientific theories, the preference for the least complex explanation for an observation.
- Hickam's dictum: A counter-argument to Occam's Razor in medicine, stating that a patient can have as many diseases as they damn well please.
- Zebra (medicine): A slang term for a rare, often overlooked diagnosis when a more common explanation is also plausible.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Occam's razor
- Wikipedia's article - Occam's razor
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski