My friend Kristen has posted a sentence as a prompt for her first Flash Fiction Friday.
The sentence is:
Occam’s razor is a principle from philosophy. Suppose two explanations are equally likely. In this case the simpler one is usually better. Another way of saying it is that the more assumptions you have to make, the more unlikely an explanation is. Occam’s razor applies especially in the philosophy of science, but also more generally. Or put another way
It’s a theory used for science/philosophy/etc which suggests that, if you are presented with a number of explanations for a problem, then the simplest one is usually correct.
Occam and his razor
and now for my submission
Occam’s Razor – 159 words
Occam faced himself in the mirror as he shaved. He didn’t care for electric razors and still used a cartridge one. Not paying attention, daydreaming as usual, he nicked his philtrum. Shit. He placed the blade on the edge of the sink and stepped two paces in the windowless area, as dark and confining as a cellar, to tear several squares of toilet tissue off the roll. Back at the mirror he dabbed at the blood and again picked up the shaver to continue, vowing to pay more attention. Noticing something amiss he peered at the razor. It felt heavy and unwieldy in his hand. What the hell? The sword began to slash his flesh. Crimson splashed on the porcelain. He watched the scene unfold in the glass. Heart thumping fear gripped him. Over the sink, the reflected visage had been ripped to shreds, and grinned back at him like the Cheshire Cat. There must be a simple explanation….
