How does Occam’s razor help people choose between competing explanations?

Attributed to the English philosopher William of Ockham, Occam’s razor is a philosophical principle that suggests that when faced with competing theories, the simpler explanation is generally to be preferred. The core of this idea is the Latin phrase pluralitas non est ponenda sine necessitate, meaning "plurality should not be posited without necessity".12

The principle helps people choose between explanations by prioritizing two types of simplicity:1

• Syntactic simplicity: This refers to the elegance and conciseness of a theory, favoring explanations that rely on fewer assumptions.1
• Ontological parsimony: This focuses on the simplicity of the objects or entities being described, favoring theories that require fewer distinct elements to explain a phenomenon.1

While it serves as a useful guiding heuristic in fields ranging from physics to medicine, it is not a rule of absolute truth. Critics note that prioritizing simplicity can sometimes lead to oversimplification or error, as nature does not always follow the most straightforward path.13