Carl Sagan and Occam's Razor in his baloney-spotting kit

Carl Sagan and Occam's Razor in his baloney-spotting kit
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Posted by: Angus Cunningham
01/06/2008, 20:33:27

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"Occam's razor" - if there are two hypotheses that explain the data equally well choose the simpler.

Would someone explain how this is a reliable baloney spotting criterion?

Granted that Occam might have played a historically amusing part centuries ago in Church politics, don't all untruths (i.e. accidental as distinct from deliberate falsities) arise from an articulator's need for simplicity?

If so, what does this imply for desirable behaviour by forum moderators? by honoured TT guests? what's this

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Followups

Getting the ball/grape/baloon/sphere/globe rolling --- DWA ( 01/07/2008, 11:32:04 ) ( 590 bytes ) +1
- Re: Occam's Razor and K.I.S.S. --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/07/2008, 13:59:23 ) ( 1025 bytes ) +1
  - Phrases unlikely to sway the debating Wilkinson sword judges --- DWA ( 01/08/2008, 12:18:00 ) ( 567 bytes )
It's really quite simple. --- crossbowman ( 01/17/2008, 12:30:01 ) ( 1028 bytes ) +2
- Oversimplification short cuts don't have to work --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 01:39:24 ) ( 885 bytes ) +1
  - Nice try --- crossbowman ( 01/18/2008, 15:10:23 ) ( 2459 bytes ) +1
    - "Lazy Boy" clean Scout Ranch --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 18:25:27 ) ( 870 bytes ) +1
      - Re: Ecclesiasticism in Occamic KISS razors --- Angus Cunningham ( 03/01/2008, 12:51:07 ) ( 265 bytes )
- Re: How simple? --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/18/2008, 07:31:14 ) ( 1831 bytes ) +2
  - Bose-Einstein Condensed State on Angus qua particle is Achievable?+ --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 11:46:59 ) ( 2344 bytes ) link +2
    - Re: Bose-Einstein Condensed State on Angus qua particle is Achievable?+ --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/18/2008, 12:31:48 ) ( 1777 bytes ) +2
      - doubled --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 13:07:50 ) ( 1 bytes )
      - Let the biggest blarney do the chores on the TT Doubting forums? --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 13:10:57 ) ( 957 bytes ) +1
        
        Don't confuse blarney and Bologna --- crossbowman ( 01/18/2008, 19:02:00 ) ( 1228 bytes ) +1
        
        I love Polish sausage --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 22:08:03 ) ( 531 bytes )
    - And your point would be? --- crossbowman ( 01/18/2008, 17:37:50 ) ( 544 bytes )
  - It kind of depends on what you're hypothesizing. --- crossbowman ( 01/18/2008, 16:24:35 ) ( 1011 bytes ) +1
    - Re: It kind of depends on what WHO is hypothesizing. --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/19/2008, 14:52:42 ) ( 2033 bytes ) link +1
      - A shot in the dark here last night --- DWA ( 01/19/2008, 22:10:41 ) ( 686 bytes ) link +1
        
        Re: A shot in the dark here last night --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/20/2008, 08:58:57 ) ( 1262 bytes ) link +1
        
        DWA demands his haggis and oats freshly cooked&servedby the sig. other --- DWA ( 01/20/2008, 13:20:49 ) ( 507 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: DWA demands his haggis and oats freshly cooked&servedby the sig. other --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/20/2008, 15:39:57 ) ( 536 bytes ) link +1
        
        Encyclopaedic preserves and links for support --- DWA ( 01/20/2008, 17:16:34 ) ( 460 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: Biological Evolution or biorational evolution? Serious reprise. --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/20/2008, 17:56:18 ) ( 1448 bytes ) +1
        
        Since this is so. So, now, your turn back on the Totemizer pedals. --- DWA ( 01/21/2008, 14:58:07 ) ( 972 bytes ) link +1
        
        Re: Since this is so. So, now, your turn back on the Totemizer pedals. --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/21/2008, 16:07:39 ) ( 304 bytes ) +1
        
        A job for Clueso? Respekfooly disagree. --- DWA ( 01/21/2008, 23:16:49 ) ( 361 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: A job for Clueso? Respekfooly disagree. --- Angus Cunningham ( 03/06/2008, 19:16:56 ) ( 1492 bytes ) +1
        
        Angus' convoluted toady constructions --- DWA ( 03/06/2008, 21:03:02 ) ( 1215 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: The verdict: ... --- Angus Cunningham ( 03/06/2008, 23:37:24 ) ( 324 bytes ) +1
        
        Flabby palmed legerdemain: Cite your statutes ==>mens rea --- DWA ( 03/07/2008, 10:51:57 ) ( 895 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: doing it before birth? --- Angus Cunningham ( 03/07/2008, 14:02:22 ) ( 2531 bytes ) +1
        
        Bemused demure is mildly titillated and appreciates free ice cream samples, too. --- DWA ( 03/07/2008, 19:33:15 ) ( 947 bytes ) +1
        
        Re: Bemused demure is mildly titillated, appreciates free ice cream samples, too --- Angus Cunningham ( 03/07/2008, 20:43:27 ) ( 1906 bytes )
Re: Carl Sagan and Occam's Razor in his baloney-spotting kit --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/18/2008, 14:38:01 ) ( 626 bytes ) +1
- Position statement begs for qualification on Occam: Not 100% valid, no --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 18:10:48 ) ( 871 bytes ) +2
  - Re: Position statement begs for qualification on Occam: Not 100% valid, no --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/18/2008, 18:19:59 ) ( 535 bytes ) +1
    - Computer tested determination- --- DWA ( 01/18/2008, 22:15:14 ) ( 402 bytes )
  - Re: Position statement begs for qualification on Occam: Not 100% valid, no --- Angus Cunningham ( 01/19/2008, 10:27:38 ) ( 1698 bytes )