Cutting through complexity

After reading this article, you’ll learn:

1. What is Occam’s razor.

2. Why you should know about it.

3. How you can use it to your advantage.

In today’s world, there is an overwhelming amount of information. Navigating this sea of noise to make good decisions is a skill which should be learnt.

Fortunately there are tools which help us ignore the fluff and arrive at straightforward and elegant elegant answers. One of them is Occam’s Razor.

It is called a Razor as it is a rule of thumb which shaves away unwanted assumptions.

It is named after William of Occam, a 14th-century English philosopher and theologian.

He said "Entities must not be multiplied beyond necessity." . This emphasizes choosing explanations with fewer entities or assumptions.

An important note is that Occam's razor doesn’t make any claim about which of the competing explanations is actually true. Rather, it is a rule of thumb that has guided scientists and philosophers when developing models and theories.

Why should you know about this?

1. Better decision making.

   Thinking is a hugely - underrated skill. How we think influences how we perceive the world, and how we feel about ourselves. The quality of life is the quality of our decisions. And building a latticework of tools which help you think better is absolutely essential.

2. Better problem solving.

   This tool will help you remove unnecessary assumptions, keep things simple and remove the fluff. It will save you from getting lost in the distractions.

3. Reduce overthinking.

   In complex situations it is common to get stressed and get into the overthinking loop. This tool can help you reduce stress and proceed in a good direction.

How you can use this knowledge to your advantage:

1. Financial planning.

   Imagine there are 2 investment options. If option A promises a fixed return every year, and B promises a higher return IF the markets perform well AND IF some country’s economy grows well, then it is time to think about Occam’s razor.

   It may be a wise decision to go with option A, especially if you do not understand option B.

2. Health and wellness.

   Suppose you want to lose weight and are confused with the latest diet fads - keto diet, intermittent fasting, Mediterranean diet, veganism and 20 more, then it is time to simplify. Maybe it is better to stick to basics - a balanced diet, regular exercise, spiritual wellness and sufficient rest.

   By the way, all major world religions have “intermittent fasting” built into them. In Hinduism, Ekadashi is a time when fasting is observed.

3. Technology usage.

   Say you’re looking for a new gadget or software. Instead of blindly going for something which has 20 features which you “may” use in this scenario or that, it is much better if you

   • List your requirements.

   • Mark the most important ones.

   • Pick a product / service which covers most of your requirements.

     If you do this mindfully, I promise you will save a ton of money, time and get rid of unwanted digital clutter.

Hope this concept helps in your personal and professional life. And if so, please share with your friends and family.

Further reading:

1. How Occam's Razor Works.

2. What is Occam’s razor.