<P> Occam 's razor ( also Ockham 's razor or Ocham 's razor ; Latin : lex parsimoniae `` law of parsimony '' ) is the problem - solving principle that the simplest solution tends to be the correct one . When presented with competing hypotheses to solve a problem , one should select the solution with the fewest assumptions . The idea is attributed to William of Ockham ( c. 1287 -- 1347 ) , who was an English Franciscan friar , scholastic philosopher , and theologian . </P>
<P> Occam 's razor ( also Ockham 's razor or Ocham 's razor ; Latin : lex parsimoniae `` law of parsimony '' ) is the problem - solving principle that the simplest solution tends to be the correct one . When presented with competing hypotheses to solve a problem , one should select the solution with the fewest assumptions . The idea is attributed to William of Ockham ( c. 1287 -- 1347 ) , who was an English Franciscan friar , scholastic philosopher , and theologian . </P>
english philosopher for whom a razor was named
english philosopher for whom a razor was named
William of Ockham
William of Ockham