Occam's Razor & Hanlon's Razor

These razors cut through indecision and help us arrive at a decision quickly.

Occam’s Razor

For problem-solving, one of the frequently used tools is - Occam’s Razor. In essence, the simple explanation is the best possible one compared to a complex one. But this is quite a gross oversimplification. The true definition is -

All things being equal is the critical phrase. You cannot go with the explanation that the earth is flat just because it is simple. The world is flat doesn’t explain all other phenomena as the earth is spherical.

Simplicity is beautiful.

• Google search has revolutionised search by removing all complexity and keeping the essentials.

• It gives clarity to your thinking and helps make the right decisions. Overcomplicating things in fields like UX design can be messy.

When applied to writing, the most straightforward message is the best message. Complicated phrases hide the real meaning; simple language sends the right intended message.

Not everything can be explained using Occam’s razor. A good example is fraud or Ponzi schemes. Complex human behaviour with manipulation and greed helps perpetuate scams. They keep happening because they aren’t so easy to spot.

Hanlon’s Razor

Startup life is chaotic, and things happen around us very fast. Communication slippages are common. The first thought that crosses our mind is that our peer or manager deliberately withheld this information.

The more plausible explanation is an oversight. A mental model that leads to this thinking is - Hanlon’s Razor.

Hanlon’s Razor states that we should always look at the core cause of mistakes to be stupidity and not malice.

Our minds are attuned to fish for conspiracies in straightforward matters. (The biased media doesn’t help matters either.) Very few occurrences are a result of bad actors. This model reminds us that we make mistakes. Catastrophic events mainly happen by accident and not by design. If we can go beyond this, we will focus on opportunities instead of an option.

When we see malice in things happening around us, we go into fight or flight mode. In this position of defence, it is tough to make balanced calls on essential issues. The world is inherently good - nobody is out to get us. It is easier to forgive than hold grudges. Worse is to hold a grudge when there is absolutely no reason to.

Reference: The Great Mental Models, Vol 1., Shane Parrish