Occam’s razor in an era of declining public trust

The venerable logical principle known as “Occam’s razor,” attributed to the 14th-century English philosopher and theologian William of Ockham, asserts that when confronted with multiple possible explanations for a causal phenomenon, the simplest explanation is – absent persuasive evidence to the contrary – usually correct.

Although hardly foolproof or comprehensive, Occam’s razor has the benefit of simply making a lot of sense. The problem is that Occam’s razor, as a general signpost to...