Editing Scientific method (section)

==== Parsimony ====

The [[wikt:desiderata|desiderata]] of a "good" theory have been debated for centuries, going back perhaps even earlier than [[Occam's razor]],{{efn|Occam's razor, sometimes referred to as "ontological parsimony", is roughly stated as: Given a choice between two theories, the simplest is the best. This suggestion commonly is attributed to William of Ockham in the 14th-century, although it probably predates him.<ref name=Baker/>}} which is often taken as an attribute of a good theory. Science tries to be simple. When gathered data supports multiple explanations, the most simple explanation for phenomena or the most simple formation of a theory is recommended by the principle of parsimony.{{sfnp|Gauch|2003|p=269}} Scientists go as far as to call simple proofs of complex statements ''beautiful''.

{{Blockquote| quote=We are to admit no more causes of natural things than such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances.|source=Isaac Newton, ''Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica (1723 [3rd ed.])''<ref name="principia" />}}

The concept of parsimony should not be held to imply complete frugality in the pursuit of scientific truth. The general process starts at the opposite end of there being a vast number of potential explanations and general disorder. An example can be seen in [[Paul Krugman]]'s process, who makes explicit to "dare to be silly". He writes that in his work on new theories of international trade he [[literature review|reviewed prior work]] with an open frame of mind and broadened his initial viewpoint even in unlikely directions. Once he had a sufficient body of ideas, he would try to simplify and thus find what worked among what did not. Specific to Krugman here was to "question the question". He recognised that prior work had applied erroneous models to already present evidence, commenting that "intelligent commentary was ignored".{{refn | name=Krugman|{{cite journal | last=Krugman | first=Paul | title=How I Work | journal=The American Economist | publisher=Sage Publications, Inc. | volume=37 | issue=2 | year=1993 | issn=0569-4345 | jstor=25603965 | pages=25–31 | doi=10.1177/056943459303700204 }} ...I have already implicitly given my four basic rules for research. Let me now state them explicitly, then explain. Here are the rules: 
# Listen to the Gentiles
# Question the question
# Dare to be silly
# Simplify, simplify
<!--credit to q:Science-->}} Thus touching on the need to bridge the common bias against other circles of thought.{{sfnp | Fleck | 1979 | p=27}}