Occam's Electric Shaver

Terry Alden





               
William of Ockham
(
ca. 1285 - 1349 A. D.)


If old Wil Ockham were alive today, he'd have a different version of of the words of wisdom he's famous for:

"The simplest explanation of a phenomenon is NOT always the best and most likely to be true."


The frequently quoted metaphor, "Occam's Razor," refers to the philosophical principle, adopted by Western science and attributed to the 14th Century Franciscan monk and Oxford scholar, William of Ockham, which alleges that the simplest explanation for a phenomenon is the best and most accurate one.  It is often invoked in scientific argument to silence opposition when it appears a debate is straying into exotic and more complicated theories than the accusing debater thinks necessary.  It is used arrogantly, providing no appeal to higher authority of its summary judgment, as though a good suggestion is the same as a law.

A quantum leap to the next level, Occam's Electric Shaver is a reaction against this rhetorical autocracy which recognizes and accepts, even celebrates, the complexity of the world we live in and posits that the simplest explanations for things are not always the best and most accurate ones possible.

The ten writings collected here all go beyond the accepted "Keep it simple, stupid!" dogma on their respective subjects to develop ideas ranging beyond officially-accepted conventional wisdom.  In the future, they will be published in a book.  As future chapters, they may be read prior to hard-copy publication, as available, exclusively through this website.  An access fee is charged for certain longer chapters.



Table of Contents


The Mill of Time
Part 1:  Celestial Cycles and Ancient Mythological Science
Part 2:  The Monomyth Retold:  Beginning and Ending of the Age of Christ
©1991 Terry Alden

The 22 Enigma
©1988 Terry Alden

Science Investigates The Human Aura
©2001 Terry Alden

Metaphysics and Technology
©1993 Terry Alden

A Practical Solution to Global Warming
©2007 Terry Alden

Official Pronouncements and Peevish Outbursts
of HPS, The Philosopher General
©2007 Terry Alden
In Progress

The Great Pyramid:  Timepiece of Eternity
©2007 Terry Alden
Proposed

Technosophy and the Brain Operating System
©2007 Terry Alden
Proposed

Gimme That ET Religion
It's Good Enough For Me
©2007 Terry Alden
In Progress

The Most Dangerous Drug of All
Money and the $10,000,000 Cap
©2007 Terry Alden
Proposed



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