#philosophy #economy-of-thought #simplicity #science #Karl-Popper #falsifiability #Andrey-Kolmogorov #algorithmic-complexity #Lindy-effect #innovation Created at 260323 # [Anonymous feedback](https://www.admonymous.co/louis030195) # [[Epistemic status]] #shower-thought Last modified date: 260323 Commit: 0 # Related - [[Philosophy/Rationality/Ernst Mach mental models]] - [[Philosophy/Epistemology/Thinking before acting]] - [[Philosophy/Humans/Economics]] - [[Philosophy/Epistemology/Simplicity does not necessarily mean truth]] # TODO > [!TODO] TODO # Economy of thought Ernst Mach's "economy of thought"[^1] is a philosophical concept that has been recognized as one of his most important achievements. The idea of economy of thought refers to the principle that when one is trying to explain or understand a phenomenon, one should strive for the simplest explanation possible, eliminating any unnecessary or superfluous elements. Mach believed that the goal of science was to find the most economical theory that accounted for the available empirical evidence, rather than creating a complex theory that was not fully supported by empirical evidence. This idea has had a profound influence on the development of science, as it has emphasized the importance of parsimony and simplicity in scientific explanations. The concept of economy of thought has also been applied to other areas of human thought, including language and communication, problem-solving, and decision-making. By prioritizing simplicity and efficiency, individuals can better focus their attention and mental resources on the most important aspects of a problem or situation. Overall, Mach's economy of thought has had a significant impact on both philosophy and science, emphasizing the importance of parsimony and simplicity in understanding the world around us. [[Karl Popper]] talks about [[Simplicity|simplicity]] as a [[The criterion of demarcation|criterion for scientific theories]], which he labels as the principle of "[[Philosophy/Epistemology/Falsifiability|falsifiability]]". Popper argues that a scientific theory must be capable of being refuted or falsified by empirical evidence, and the simpler the theory, the easier it is to test and potentially disprove. The principle of falsifiability complements Mach's economy of thought by emphasizing the importance of empirical evidence in scientific inquiry. Andrey Kolmogorov, a prominent mathematician and theorist, also contributed to the development of the concept of simplicity in science through his work on algorithmic complexity. [[Kolmogorov complexity]] is a measure of the amount of information needed to describe a system or phenomenon, and it is closely related to Mach's principle of economy of thought. The simpler a system, the less information is needed to describe it, and the easier it is to understand and analyze. An example of Kolmogorov complexity for a computer program is the length of the shortest possible input it can take to produce its output. In other words, it measures the amount of information needed to describe the program and its output. The shorter the program and the input needed to produce its output, the simpler the program is considered to be. This measure of complexity is particularly useful in computer science and artificial intelligence research, where programs and algorithms are often designed to be as efficient and simple as possible. ## [[Philosophy/Rationality/Models/Lindy Effect|Lindy effect]] The concept of economy of thought has also been connected to the Lindy Effect, which suggests that the longer a idea, trend, or technology has been around, the more likely it is to continue to exist and grow. The Lindy Effect suggests that ideas or technologies with a long history have survived because they are more efficient, adaptable, and useful than newer ideas or technologies. This concept reinforces the importance of simplicity and efficiency in human thought and innovation. [^1]: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/5fb5a092-1d5d-47bd-8a26-59e89775f0e7?s=c