Ockham (aka Occam) wrote what we now call his Razor: "Never is a plurality to be multiplied without necessity" (except that he wrote it in Latin). This has been interpreted as meaning the simplest explanation should be chosen when faced with multiple alternatives. To hone the razor even further, I can imagine that a user would think the least astonishing result of a computer command would be the simplest explanation. Some logicians might argue contrariwise. At the very least, the computer principle is a corollary of the Razor.
Bill Fairchild Software Developer Rocket Software 275 Grove Street * Newton, MA 02466-2272 * USA Tel: +1.617.614.4503 * Mobile: +1.508.341.1715 Email: [email protected] Web: www.rocketsoftware.com -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Sam Siegel Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 2:23 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Principle of Least Astonishment (Was: IDCAMS delete with mask) Darn ... I was laying 2:1 odds. On Mon, Sep 28, 2009 at 8:18 PM, Scott Rowe <[email protected]> wrote: > I don't think he's quite that old. > > >>> Bill Fairchild <[email protected]> 9/28/2009 3:13 PM >>> > Did Lionel Dyck predate William of Ockham (1288-1327)? > > Bill Fairchild > > Software Developer > Rocket Software > 275 Grove Street * Newton, MA 02466-2272 * USA > Tel: +1.617.614.4503 * Mobile: +1.508.341.1715 > Email: [email protected] > Web: www.rocketsoftware.com > > > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[email protected]] On > Behalf Of Edward Jaffe > Sent: Monday, September 28, 2009 2:08 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Principle of Least Astonishment (Was: IDCAMS delete with mask) > > Pinnacle wrote: > > ... They violated Lionel Dyck's "principle of least astonishment". > > The Principle of Least Astonishment is attributable to Lionel Dyck? > > -- > Edward E Jaffe > Phoenix Software International, Inc > 5200 W Century Blvd, Suite 800 > Los Angeles, CA 90045 > 310-338-0400 x318 > [email protected] > http://www.phoenixsoftware.com/ > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO > Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO > Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html > > > > CONFIDENTIALITY/EMAIL NOTICE: The material in this transmission contains > confidential and privileged information intended only for the addressee. If > you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you have received > this material in error and that any forwarding, copying, printing, > distribution, use or disclosure of the material is strictly prohibited. If > you have received this material in error, please (i) do not read it, (ii) > reply to the sender that you received the message in error, and (iii) erase > or destroy the material. Emails are not secure and can be intercepted, > amended, lost or destroyed, or contain viruses. You are deemed to have > accepted these risks if you communicate with us by email. Thank you. > > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO > Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
