A “razor” is a rule of thumb that simplifies decision-making.
All geniuses of the world use razors constantly.
The 9 most powerful razors I’ve found:
(explained in two minutes)
All geniuses of the world use razors constantly.
The 9 most powerful razors I’ve found:
(explained in two minutes)
1. Sagan’s Standard
Extraordinary claims demand evidence scaled to their improbability.
When confronted with claims like "crystals cure cancer" the burden of proof lies not in dismissing them outright, but in requiring replicable data from controlled studies.
Extraordinary claims demand evidence scaled to their improbability.
When confronted with claims like "crystals cure cancer" the burden of proof lies not in dismissing them outright, but in requiring replicable data from controlled studies.
2. Grice’s Razor
Interpret statements through the lens of implied intent rather than literal meaning.
This razor recognizes human communication as a dance of subtext, where context and shared assumptions outweigh dictionary definitions.
Interpret statements through the lens of implied intent rather than literal meaning.
This razor recognizes human communication as a dance of subtext, where context and shared assumptions outweigh dictionary definitions.
3. Newton’s Flaming Laser Sword
Focusing on untestable ideas like multiverses wastes mental energy. Instead, prioritize testable questions, like which renewable energy storage solutions are most efficient
It confines productive discourse to the realm of falsifiable hypotheses
Focusing on untestable ideas like multiverses wastes mental energy. Instead, prioritize testable questions, like which renewable energy storage solutions are most efficient
It confines productive discourse to the realm of falsifiable hypotheses
4. Occam’s Broom
The selective omission of inconvenient data often disguises itself as elegant simplicity.
Stemming from "Occam's Razor", this warns against theories too neatly aligned with their proponents’ interests.
The selective omission of inconvenient data often disguises itself as elegant simplicity.
Stemming from "Occam's Razor", this warns against theories too neatly aligned with their proponents’ interests.
5. Clark’s Law
Catastrophic outcomes more frequently stem from compounded incompetence than calculated malice.
The 2008 crash wasn't from bond traders’ villainy, but from layered institutional failures.
Systemic analysis > villain narratives
Catastrophic outcomes more frequently stem from compounded incompetence than calculated malice.
The 2008 crash wasn't from bond traders’ villainy, but from layered institutional failures.
Systemic analysis > villain narratives
7. Wittgenstein’s Ruler
Measurement tools reveal as much about their users as their subjects.
The statistic often says more about how questions were framed than actual public sentiment. True calibration requires interrogating both instrument and intent.
Measurement tools reveal as much about their users as their subjects.
The statistic often says more about how questions were framed than actual public sentiment. True calibration requires interrogating both instrument and intent.
8. Stink’s Razor
Persistent rejection of overwhelming evidence constitutes ethical failure, not intellectual disagreement.
Certain denialism persists not through ignorance of science, but through active resistance to paradigm shifts that threaten existing power structures.
Persistent rejection of overwhelming evidence constitutes ethical failure, not intellectual disagreement.
Certain denialism persists not through ignorance of science, but through active resistance to paradigm shifts that threaten existing power structures.
9. Hume’s Guillotine
“No ‘ought’ can be derived from an ‘is.’”
David Hume’s epistemological divide argues moral imperatives cannot logically flow from factual observations.
“No ‘ought’ can be derived from an ‘is.’”
David Hume’s epistemological divide argues moral imperatives cannot logically flow from factual observations.
That's a wrap!
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