Parsimony

[Tom Allaway]

    Just a couple of points:

• Parsimony is certainly a principle rather than a law; it is a rule to guide our thinking.  It is  best called a heuristic.
• Parsimony does not say everything is simple.  It says that when we are choosing between two or more explanations, both of which fit the observed data, we should prefer the simpler one.  This of course leaves open the possibility that additional data may force a reassessment.
• Nature never promised to be simple...  hence the parsimony heuristic may not always lead us to truth.  But it's the best guide we have.