04 Sep 13
Originally posted by HandyAndy"Every assumption, be it charitable or not, must be ignored.": Human observations of people, their words and deeds; places and things are processed instantly as academic information. Left Lobe/Right Lobe Transfer requires volitional choices to accept or reject the input in part or whole. What remains is stored, ready for recall. Norms and standards are formed; values and principles are acquired which govern assumptions made. Assumptions are an inevitable outcome of observations. Abject denial would be required to "ignore" charitable and/or uncharitable assumptions. My assumption: you care about this topic.
If Occam's razor is applied to human relationships, whether in cyberspace or at the corner
saloon, it becomes necessary to disregard any personal attribute or quality that cannot be
directly observed. Every assumption, be it charitable or not, must be ignored.
Still think it's a good idea?
04 Sep 13
Originally posted by Pianoman1"Occam's razor (also written as Ockham's razor from William of Ockham, and in Latin lex parsimoniae) is a principle of parsimony, economy, or succinctness used in logic and problem-solving. It states that among competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with the fewest assumptions should be selected.
As I understand the principle of Occam's Razor, it states that of any competing hypotheses the [I] simplest [/i] should always be chosen. It has been argued that a circle of matted grass could have been made either by a landing space ship or a wooden board. They are both assumptions, but the wooden board is the simplest hypothesis and so would, using the p ...[text shortened]... ause. As applied to Internet forums the most charitable hypothesis is not always the simplest!
The application of the principle often shifts the burden of proof in a discussion. The razor states that one should proceed to simpler theories until simplicity can be traded for greater explanatory power. The simplest available theory need not be most accurate. Philosophers also point out that the exact meaning of simplest may be nuanced.
Solomonoff's inductive inference is a mathematically formalized Occam's razor: shorter computable theories have more weight when calculating the probability of the next observation, using all computable theories which perfectly describe previous observations.
In science, Occam's razor is used as a heuristic (general guiding rule or an observation) to guide scientists in the development of theoretical models rather than as an arbiter between published models. In the scientific method, Occam's razor is not considered an irrefutable principle of logic or a scientific result." (wiki)
"As I understand the principle of Occam's Razor, it states that of any competing hypotheses the simplest should always be chosen."... Yes, initially though not necessarily "always", until "simplicity can be traded for greater explanatory power."
"As applied to Internet forums the most charitable hypothesis is not always the simplest." And (at times) not without strenuous effort, strength of character and the purity of will to will one thing: apprehending objective reality. We fully agree.
04 Sep 13
Originally posted by Grampy BobbyYou're cutting with a dull blade, Bobby. Occam's razor won't help you to find friends on the Internet.
"Occam's razor (also written as Ockham's razor from William of Ockham, and in Latin lex parsimoniae) is a principle of parsimony, economy, or succinctness used in logic and problem-solving. It states that among competing hypotheses, the hypothesis with the fewest assumptions should be selected.
The application of the principle often shifts the burden ...[text shortened]... rity of will to will one thing: apprehending objective reality. We fully agree.
04 Sep 13
Originally posted by NoEarthlyReason“You must have a cigarette. A cigarette is the perfect type of a perfect pleasure.
Somewhere, there must be good metaphors for the world wide web forum experience. Perhaps akin to Oscar Wilde's description of a cigarette.
It is exquisite, and it leaves one unsatisfied. What more can one want?”
Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray