Ockham’s Razor
B.E.
Shalom Rabbi, have a good week and happy holidays.
Recently, we have heard in the media from defenders of the Jewish religion against the chills of Amalekiteism in our generation, a new doctrine that almost certainly leads to belief in G-d. One of the new tactics is an appeal to “Occam’s Razor” as both an epistemological and a methodological tool. On the surface, an appeal to Occam’s Razor is a natural thing to do. It is a pretentious tool that has been tried to establish in many ways, and most of them have failed. But the theological dangers of such an appeal are also something that should be taken into account (from handkerchiefs and demons to witchcraft and a whole lot of nonsense).
So I wanted to ask the rabbi, do you think this is a correct tactic?
And second, is there a good reason to believe in the simplicity of the world? Or is it a metaphysical assumption about the whole of creation that we have no right to question?
A kosher and happy Passover.
I am not familiar with this tactic. Objections to the razor have been raised by many from all directions. I also object to forming a position on a philosophical or logical principle by asking whether it poses a danger or is useful for something. Philosophical principles should be examined on their own merits.
As for the substance of your question, see my article on this here:
https://mikyab.net/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%9E%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9D/%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%93-%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%A0%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9F-%D7%AA%D7%A2%D7%A8%D7%95-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%90%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9D/
Thank you very much for the response and the reference,
It is in the media of the Mizrahi. I am afraid that mentioning the name of the appellant (I think it is more of a group) is a matter of shame.
I do not completely agree with your claim. I remember that they quote from the letter from Eliyahu like this. In any case, I will ask about the article there.
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