Meaning & use
law of parsimony
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Meanings
phrasesingulartechnical
The idea that when several explanations fit the facts, you should prefer the simplest one, the one that needs the fewest extra assumptions.
Grammar: Used with the before it: the law of parsimony suggests the simplest answer.
Patterns
- apply the law of parsimony
- according to the law of parsimony
By the law of parsimony, she assumed the broken window was caused by the storm.
Scientists often rely on the law of parsimony when two theories fit the data equally well.
The law of parsimony does not prove that the simpler idea is true; it only suggests where to begin.
phrasesingularbiologytechnical
In biology, the method of choosing the family tree of species that needs the smallest number of evolutionary changes.
Grammar: Usually called the principle of parsimony or maximum parsimony in this field.
Patterns
- parsimony analysis
- maximum parsimony
Researchers used the law of parsimony to decide which family tree was most likely.
Under the law of parsimony, the tree with fewer changes is preferred.
The student explained how parsimony analysis builds a tree of species.
Common combinations
- apply the law of parsimony
- A good detective applies the law of parsimony before looking for exotic causes.
- invoke the law of parsimony
- The author invokes the law of parsimony to dismiss the conspiracy theory.
- according to the law of parsimony
- According to the law of parsimony, the simplest answer is the one to test first.
- law of parsimony in science
- The law of parsimony in science favors elegant explanations.
- violate the law of parsimony
- A theory with ten extra assumptions violates the law of parsimony.
Synonyms and how they differ
- Occam's razor
- Occam's razor is the better-known name for the same principle, while law of parsimony is more formal and used in science and philosophy writing.
- principle of parsimony
- Principle of parsimony is another name for the idea and is common in biology, where it is used for building evolutionary trees.
- Ockham's razor
- Ockham's razor is an alternative spelling of Occam's razor, after the medieval thinker William of Ockham.
Word family
- parsimony noun
- the preference for the simplest explanation; also, extreme unwillingness to spend money
- parsimonious adjective
- unwilling to spend money, or using the fewest assumptions
- parsimoniously adverb
- in a very sparing way
Commonly confused: law of parsimony or parsimony?
law of parsimony vs parsimony
In everyday English parsimony means meanness with money, but in the law of parsimony it means simplicity of explanation.
Practice
Two explanations fit the evidence equally well, and a researcher picks the one with fewer assumptions. Which principle is she applying?
Choose one answer.
The law of parsimony says to prefer the simpler explanation. The other laws belong to statistics and economics and do not concern choosing between explanations.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “law of parsimony”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.