Have We Forgotten Ockham and His Blade?
“I apologize for such a long letter - I didn't have time to write a short one.”
- Mark Twain
⏰ If you only read one thing, read this: Clarity is not only found in what we say, but also in what we cut away. Ockham’s Razor reminds us that simplicity sharpens meaning.
A common enough phrase, but what does it mean to you?
✏️ William of Ockham, a 14th-century friar, likely never wielded a literal blade, but his principle perseveres through centuries of thought. Known today as Occam’s Razor, his idea was simple: do not multiply assumptions beyond necessity. The simplest explanation is often the most accurate, not because it adds more, but because it refuses what does not logically belong.
Consider a doctor confronted with a patient who presents with a fever, cough, and fatigue. While rare diseases could be considered, the most straightforward explanation must be ruled out first. Instead of imagining a web of possible outlandish diseases or potential hidden motives, the practical starting point is often the simplest: something like the flu. Ockham’s principle cuts away unnecessary speculation so that focus can be placed where it belongs, though we can all imagine how someone might imagine alternatives.
Philosophy of language reinforces this lesson on the value of concision with what we say and why Ockham’s razor is needed. The Austrian philosopher, Ludwig Wittgenstein, once wrote, “The limits of my language mean the limits of my world.” Though this can be interpreted in many ways, most scholars agree that he is saying our language defines our world. Importantly, what we say is determined by inclusion and exclusion, what we name, and what we leave out. To speak imprecisely is to blur the edges of context and meaning; to speak concisely is to preserve it.
Consider the two phrases: “We failed”, which carries a very different clarity than, “We encountered unforeseen externalities that challenged our performance metrics to a degree that they were not met.” One statement sharpens reality, while the other hides it behind clutter, though to a similar eventual effect once the truth could be unraveled. Each unnecessary word creates potential ambiguity. Wittgenstein reminds us that our descriptors of the world actually give it shape, and to use words meaninglessly is to live in a meaninglessly shaped world. Gross.
For leaders, the implications are practical. Simplicity is not laziness. It is discipline. The best communicators cut through clutter to reveal the essential. They resist the urge to decorate ideas with unnecessary complexity, and in doing so, they give their teams and organizations sharper clarity and direction.
⚓️ Anchor It in Action: This week, try using Ockam’s Razor in your own communication. Write an email, memo, or presentation draft and then radically cut away everything that does not add direct clarity. Notice how removing excess makes what remains stronger.
Suggested Reading:
Wittgenstein, L. (1922). Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus. Routledge & Kegan Paul. Thorburn, W. M. (1915).
Sober, E. (2015). Ockham’s Razors: A User’s Manual. Cambridge University Press.
