OCCAM'S RAZOR

While searching for a topic to write about this morning, I came across Occam's Razor.  Never heard of the phrase, so did a bit of digging.

Razor is attributed to William of Ockham, an English Franciscan friar and logician.  The principle suggests that the simplest explanation is often the best explanation.  Others may have used the principle before William, but he's the one who's historically associated with the concept.

This philosophical principle is called a 'razor,' because it's a metaphor that implies that the razor effectively shaves away unnecessary complexities to reveal the simplest and most likely explanation.

Occam's Razor can be summed up by the phrase, "All things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the best one."  Simplicity is a virtue.  The simpler the explanation, the easier it is for us to understand and the more likely it is to be true.

An example of the concept is if your computer won't turn on, the simplest explanation might be that it's not plugged in rather than that it has a virus or a hardware failure.

For sure, there are times when complex explanations are necessary to explain a phenomenon.  But, for those of us not familiar with Occam's Razor, we now at least understand what it means.  

This is what I love about learning new things.  It's not the idea of filling a pail, but rather the lighting of a fire.   When we learn something new, our brain creates new neural pathways and strengthens existing ones.  This is known as neuroplasticity, which allows our brain to adapt and rewire itself, making it more flexible and resilient. 

Why is learning one new thing each day important in one's everyday life?

• It provides us with an escape when we need it.
• 
  It helps us break out of our normal patterns of behavior.  It gives our brains something to think about other than our worries.  Learning might only be a temporary distraction, but it shows us that thinking about something other than upsetting stuff is possible.  It just might keep us sane in this nutso world.
• Wouldn't you like to know if you still have the passion for a long-neglected hobby?  
• The constant changes in technology require us to keep learning about the latest gadget.  Who could've imagined wearing the internet on the wrist?  For us to enjoy this techy convenience requires learning new skills.
• There's a saying, "Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80.  Anyone who keeps learning stays young." 
• Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "Knowledge is when you learn something new every day."