Philosophy A-Level
Ockham’s Razor
What Ockham’s Razor means in Philosophy A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definition of Ockham’s Razor
Check what you remember
Read the wording for your board, then hide it and explain Ockham’s Razor in your own words. Rough notes are fine. This is a self-check, with no mark or grade.
Reference: AQA
A principle of parsimony: do not multiply entities beyond necessity, preferring the simpler explanation when rival explanations fit the evidence equally well.
Topics that use Ockham’s Razor
- Subject content: Language of argumentation (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Argument from analogy
- Argument versus assertion and rhetoric
- Circularity
- Embedded arguments within longer texts
- hypothetical reasoning
- Inference indicator words
- Main conclusions and sub-conclusions
- Premises and assumptions
Using Ockham’s Razor in the exam
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