[ThinkBetter](https://thinkbetter.app/) → [Mental Models](https://thinkbetter.app/mental-models.md) → Occam's Razor

# Occam's Razor

When presented with multiple explanations for a situation or phenomenon, the simplest one is usually the best.

![Occam's Razor illustration](https://assets.thinkbetter.app/images/occams_razor.png)

Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't make things more complicated than they need to be?"  or “Keep Things Simple”? That's the essence of Occam's Razor. Originating from the medieval philosopher William of Ockham, this principle suggests that when you have multiple hypotheses for how something works or why something happened, the one that requires the fewest assumptions or steps is typically the correct one. It doesn't claim the simplest explanation is always right, but it suggests that it's the best place to start and in cases where you have no time (or opportunity) to verify which is right, this is a good approach to decide which to pick.

## Example

**Medical Diagnoses**

If a patient has a common set of symptoms, a doctor might first test for a prevalent illness rather than a rare, exotic disease. Why? The simplest explanation (common illness) is more likely than the complex one (rare disease).

## In your professional life

**Start Simple, Solve Faster**

When facing complex issues, start with the simplest possible explanations. For example, if your team's project management software is malfunctioning, first check for basic problems like outdated browsers or permission settings before assuming a system-wide failure. This approach can quickly resolve issues, showcase your practical problem-solving skills, and position you as an efficient troubleshooter within your team.

## Go deeper in ThinkBetter

The ThinkBetter app has the full Occam's Razor deep-dive: more examples, a quiz to test yourself, audio narration, and a weekly path that builds these ideas into a habit.

- iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6459831884
- Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=io.ventureship.braintricks

### Related concepts

- [Narrative Fallacy (Cognitive bias)](https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases/narrative-fallacy.md)
- [Second-Order Thinking](https://thinkbetter.app/mental-models/second-order-thinking.md)
- [Inversion](https://thinkbetter.app/mental-models/inversion.md)
- [All cognitive biases](https://thinkbetter.app/cognitive-biases.md)

Page: https://thinkbetter.app/mental-models/occams-razor