Knox's Razor
Jan. 6th, 2006 12:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fiat_knoxHow to simplify the root of all logical and scientific thinking, as exemplified by the old phrase "Once you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth"?
I thought of a simple phrase which ought to exemplify all scientific thinking when playing a game of Freecell. It occurred to me that I've been developing a tactic for playing this computer game.
1) Clear off any exposed Aces right at the start.
2) Look for court cards you can stack.
3) Look for number cards you can stack.
4) Try and clear at least one column early on, where possible.
5) If the above don't work, go and look for a column you don't like, and start there, rather than start at a column filled with tempting Aces hidden behind Deuces.
It's from this that I've managed to codify my tactic for investigating something; which basically exemplifies the way science should look at the world. And the phrase I came up with is this:
"Try the obvious first."
Four short, sweet, blunt yet elegant words. So much meaning.
I thought of a simple phrase which ought to exemplify all scientific thinking when playing a game of Freecell. It occurred to me that I've been developing a tactic for playing this computer game.
1) Clear off any exposed Aces right at the start.
2) Look for court cards you can stack.
3) Look for number cards you can stack.
4) Try and clear at least one column early on, where possible.
5) If the above don't work, go and look for a column you don't like, and start there, rather than start at a column filled with tempting Aces hidden behind Deuces.
It's from this that I've managed to codify my tactic for investigating something; which basically exemplifies the way science should look at the world. And the phrase I came up with is this:
"Try the obvious first."
Four short, sweet, blunt yet elegant words. So much meaning.
