Logical razor

A logical razor is a rational principle used to shave off possible but unrealistic or unlikely explanations for a given phenomenon. Common examples include Occam's razor and Alder's razor.
==Common razors==
Below is a short and non-comprehensive list of logical razors.
===Occam's razor===
Occam's razor was formulated by William of Occam. In short, it states that the hypothesis that makes the fewest assumptions is usually the best answer for the phenomenon. Note that Occam's razor does not say that the more simple a hypothesis, the better. That would let other 'explanations' gain traction.
====Occam's duct tape====
This is only used ironically. Also known as Occam's Krazy Glue or Occam's Stapler,Occam's duct tape, TV Tropes this is pretty much the exact opposite of Occam's razor — let's see how many unnecessary and useless assumptions we can make, mmkay? It makes much more sense that an omnipotent, omniscient, omnibenevolent sentient being broke the natural laws he (or she) made in order to create the universe as we see it, right? Good thing that the being also made the world in such a way as to point away from the same entity being the creator, yeah?
===Popper's Falsifiability Principle===
Popper's Falsifiability Principle is an axiom suggested by philosopher Karl Popper that demands any scientific claim be falsifiable before it be taken seriously. Fortunately, Popper's Falsifiability Principle, itself, is considered philosophical, not scientific, so wise men are free to take it very seriously.
===Alder's razor===
This razor was formulated by Mike Alder and is better known by its correct name, Newton's flaming laser sword. It says that whatever cannot be settled by experimentation is not worth debate.
For some reason, true adherents of this proposition never bother to argue in its defense...
===Alder's duct tape===
This is also only ironic. Also known as Alder's Krazy Glue or Alder's Stapler, or its correct name, Newton's arc welder, this is pretty much the exact opposite of Newton's flaming laser sword — let’s not expose the debate so experiments will be unnecessary or useless or conversely let’s debate the newest documented experiments just to suggest more experiments.
===Crabtree's bludgeon===
Crabtree's bludgeon is an observation which serves as a foil to Occam's razor, characterising a very different cognitive process exhibited in certain kinds of people.
Quite impressively, fanfolk of the Marvel and DC comic book universes take great joy in proving Crabtree correct.
===Hanlon's razor===
This one is easy: what's easier to believe? That the average homeopath maliciously tries to entice and seduce people into drinking water remedies? Or that the homeopath is too stupid to know that it's water dihydrogen monoxide?
===Grice's razor===
Basically, Herbert Paul Grice said that, when in a conversation, prefer what the speaker meant over what the sentence they spoke literally says.
===Hume's razor===
The cause must be proportionate to the effect it produces.
===Hitchens' razor===
Used during the act of hitchslapping, this short-but-sweet razor asserts that the burden of proof regarding the truthfulness of a claim lies with the one who makes the claim and that if this burden is not met, the claim is unfounded and its opponents need not argue further in order to dismiss it. Wise debaters in philosophical matters will, thus, wait until the other side has made a claim.
Unfortunately, Hitchens did not provide any evidence for why such assertions are dismissable. Fortunately for him, other people have taken it upon themselves to justify this razor bearing his name since he coined it.
===Tarzwell's razor===
The essence of this razor lends itself to the idea that high emotion leads to high bias. Both science and the justice system hold that dispassion is at the core of their intentions.
==See also==
*Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence
==References==