On occam's razor and your examples

November 16, 2010 08:36PM
Quote Wikipedia:
The principle is popularly, but incorrectly, summarized as "the simplest explanation is more likely the correct one." The principle of Occam's Razor recommends selecting the competing hypothesis that makes the fewest new assumptions (aka postulates, entities). It is also important that the two hypotheses be equal in other respects; for instance, they must both sufficiently explain available data in the first place. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.

<i>1) Instead of all this scientific mumbo-jumbo about physics and relativity that is imperfectly understood and nigh-impossible to prove outside of theory, it is much simpler to believe that God exists and that He controls all things.</i>

This explanation fails to sufficiently explain available data. For example, synchrotron radiation forming a beam is a relativistic effect you see in practive.

<i>2) Instead of assuming that some sort of invisible, all-powerful supernatural being exists and has some sort of mechanism from which he creates/controls all things, it is much simpler to believe that the Universe just exists, and it works according to a few basic laws from which we can derive how all other things work.</i>

God isn't really explaining anything in the world. Hence, Occam's razor can work here.

<i>Or, just to play devil's advocate,

Occam's razor says that either tens of thousands of scientists, businessmen, chemists, and engineers in the pharmaceuticals industry have ALL missed the possibility of negative effects stemming from these vaccines, or that certain key figures who have the data are silent so that the government can better control its people. Which is the simpler explanation?</i>

The simplest explanation is that you were eager to sell your new vaccine to the government and the healthcare companies and didn't want to invest more than minimal amount of money in testing that it's safe. Thus, a vaccine with flaws may have passed the not so thorough testing. Personally, I chose not to take the swine flu vaccine after seeing what it did to some people. After seeing that, I thought it might be better to have the swine flu than the vaccine. In addition, the vaccine used here was banned in US due to having an oil-based effectiveness booster component (Dunno the proper English term). Oil-based vaccine effectiveness booster components were banned in US after causing severe complications to US armed forces when used during the Gulf War. The medical companies produce 2nd rate crap vaccines like this because they are cheaper and faster to manufacture. It's better profits if the governments approve them. Simplest explanation is money, not a grand conspiracy.
Subject Author Posted

A conspiracy theoretic argument for vaccination. txt

Isildur(VIP) November 15, 2010 06:35AM

Meh I doubt they'd bother. Would help get rid of the poor but..

Someone Not Special, Esquire November 16, 2010 07:38PM

My conspiracy take

ORB November 16, 2010 01:25PM

Too much personal risk.

Death_Claw November 16, 2010 02:45PM

I don't know

PaulO November 17, 2010 04:42PM

Re: I don't know

Death_Claw November 18, 2010 07:19AM

Agree on unlikely. Just pointing out still possible. (n/t)

PaulO November 19, 2010 01:24PM

Re: Too much personal risk.

ORB November 17, 2010 06:48AM

That's funny..

Java November 17, 2010 09:47AM

Re: That's funny..

ORB November 17, 2010 12:50PM

The fact that you can't see the difference is what's funny..

Java November 18, 2010 04:19AM

Fails the Occam's razor test.

Death_Claw November 15, 2010 03:38PM

While I do agree with the results of this test

vortex_magus November 16, 2010 08:23AM

On occam's razor and your examples

DurNominator(VIP) November 16, 2010 08:36PM

Well, to go by this definition, then the razor is still meaningless

vortex_magus November 17, 2010 09:47AM

Re: Well, to go by this definition, then the razor is still meaningless

DurNominator(VIP) November 17, 2010 08:49PM

I don't read the same subjectivity into it to be honest.

Death_Claw November 16, 2010 11:27AM

Re: Fails the Occam's razor test.

Isildur(VIP) November 16, 2010 04:37AM

If you go to any extreme viewpoint...

Death_Claw November 16, 2010 05:37AM

incompetent. ;P n/t.

Jib November 15, 2010 06:36PM

Mass murder is bad for your income

Baudolino November 15, 2010 12:01PM

You could basically make this same argument for any pseudo-controversial idea.

vortex_magus November 15, 2010 10:10AM

uh...no. txt

Isildur(VIP) November 15, 2010 11:00AM

Better start shooting up then

Flipside Oreo November 15, 2010 07:35AM

You're getting weird dude.

The Forsaken(VIP) November 15, 2010 06:58AM

Steelers did get absurdly spanked. It hurt. NT

Sam November 15, 2010 06:58PM

Calling all orbs. NT

Batman November 15, 2010 06:57AM

uhuhuhuhuuhuhuh...you said balls... (n/t)

(vಠ_ಠ)> AngryFatKid November 15, 2010 09:30AM



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