>“Anybody can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple.” > ―Charles Mingus Simpler explanations are more likely to be true than complicated ones. Instead of wasting time trying to disprove complex problems, make decisions in confidence by basing your explanations on what has the fewest moving parts. When selecting among competing explanations, if all else is equal, it’s more likely that the simplest solution will suffice. Complexity is often a product of confusion used to mask systematic flaws or a lack of understanding. Opting for the simple solution allows you to make decisions based on how things really are. There is one caveat: some things are naturally complex and do not have a simple solution. > Occam’s razor is the intellectual equivalent of “[[keep it simple]].” > > When faced with competing explanations or solutions, Occam’s razor suggests that the correct explanation is most likely the simplest one, making the fewest assumptions. > > This doesn’t mean the simplest theory is always true, only that it should be preferred until proven otherwise. Sometimes, the truth is complex, and the simplest explanation doesn’t account for all the facts. > > The key to Occam’s Razor is understanding when it works for you and against you. A theory that is too simple will fail to capture reality, and one that is too complex will collapse under its own weight. > [*The Great Mental Models v1*](https://fs.blog/brain-food/february-16-2025/) ^50ff4e Explore Further: [FS Blog](https://fs.blog/occams-razor/) | [[Complexity]] | [[Simple versus Simplistic]] Tags: #seeds #Principles Your support for Cedars Hill Group is greatly appreciated <form action="https://www.paypal.com/donate" method="post" target="_top"> <input type="hidden" name="hosted_button_id" value="74PGN8ZXHQVHS" /> <input type="image" src="https://www.paypalobjects.com/en_US/i/btn/btn_donate_LG.gif" border="0" name="submit" title="PayPal - The safer, easier way to pay online!" alt="Donate with PayPal button" /> <img alt="" border="0" src="https://www.paypal.com/en_US/i/scr/pixel.gif" width="1" height="1" /> </form>