To: K-list
Recieved: 2001/10/18 07:56
Subject: [K-list] Occam's razor and similar things
From: Stephen Kowalchuk
On 2001/10/18 07:56, Stephen Kowalchuk posted thus to the K-list:
All,
Emerging from lurk mode yet again...pardon the length. I *did* pare it down...
Occam's razor suggests that between alternate explanations of a phenomena, all
other things being equal, the simpler solution is more likely to be the correct
one. This follows with the law of entropy, which can be paraphrased to suggest
that "more-complicated" phenomena are of higher energy than "less-complicated"
phenomena, and thus the tendency of nature is to keep things simple.
This seems to fit well with Pareto's law, which says that 80% of a phenomena is
driven by 20% of the associated root causes, and the remaining 20% of the
phenomena is driven by the remaining 80% of the root causes. In other words,
it's always easy to summarize one's observations by noticing the 80% and drawing
an immediate and final conclusion, selectively forgetting that the remaining 20%
exists.
Newton's laws of motion are an excellent example. Newton observed, did some
testing, and made 3 basic laws that were easy to replicate. They worked for
casual observation, but could not explain objects that were very large (planets
and gravity, which Einstein did with the General Theory of Relativity) or very
small (accomplished by numerous individuals in quantum theory and the like in
the early 1900's). On further investigation, Newton's approximations break down
at a certain level of scrutiny.
Likewise, our discussions of poverty, inequality, death, and nationalism all go
to the same place. We create approximations of reality based on our
experiences. Some of us process these experiences faster, and lean toward
making broad statements because it suits an individual need to see stability and
order in the universe. Some of us look for the exceptions, and hold out for a
more complete approximation, looking for more complicated models to explain
reality more precisely.
But they are approximations nonetheless. We do not know the true root causes of
these phenomena, and that fact is generally disconcerting. We search for
meanings, and get attached to the conclusions. We invent rationalizations to
soothe our fears and quiet our apprehension of the future, to justify our
actions and quiet the voices of those who oppose us.
Our approximations, however well-thought, will also break down at a certain
level of scrutiny.
In a time when it is easy to blame this or that as the root cause for something,
it's important to recognize that even the best approximation is still imperfect,
and that looking outside oneself to ease one's fears is generally ineffective
over the long term. As children, we are often allowed this sheltering by our
parents, to vicariously preserve "innocence" that our parents wish they had. As
adults, we cannot afford to be ignorant and dependent on others to dictate to us
our reality.
I suggest, that as sensitive, intelligent human beings, we resist the cycle of
responding out of our fears and insecurities. I suggest we let go of that which
we cannot control, and return our focus to being open, aware, and loving. Doing
so will help us transcend appearances and remember what we really are.FWIW,
Steve
The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral,
begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Through violence, you
may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the
truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you cannot
murder hate. .... Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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