Simplicity, Not Simplism: In Defence of Occam's Razor as Scientific Necessity

Occam's Razor (also known as the principle of parsimony and ontological reductionism) is regularly dismissed as an ornamental vestige—no longer worthy of its longstanding status as a fundamental scientific principle. An interpretation thereof called Verificational Simplicity or Blind Faith Parsimony is offered, which: (a) identifies the most scientific hypothesis as that yielding the fullest account of corresponding data while necessitating least verifiability-averse assumption (b) underlies all integral scientific values and (c) is of paramount scientific importance. Three supporting arguments are employed. Argument 1 highlights the often-overlooked agility with which Occam's Razor accords to latest data. Argument 2 shows that without parsimony to block ad hoc hypotheses, falsifiability is impossible—rendering science itself untenable. While argument 3 covers the enormous burden of proof reasonable corresponding dismissals must shoulder.