83,056
edits
Otto’s razor: Difference between revisions
no edit summary
Amwelladmin (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
Amwelladmin (talk | contribs) No edit summary |
||
| Line 3: | Line 3: | ||
}}{{dsh razor quote}} | }}{{dsh razor quote}} | ||
A rule of thumb, attributed to 19th century Austrian plowright {{buchstein}}, in his play {{Dsh}} ([[Die Schweizer Heulsuse|“The Swiss Milquetoast”]]) that recommends when there are plausible alternative explanations for a person’s behaviour, one should choose the simplest-''minded'', preferring cloth-headedness or coincidence over the artful application of intelligence or inspiration (for beneficent actions), or “malice, spite, or virtue” (for odious ones). | A rule of thumb, attributed to 19th century Austrian plowright [''playwright? — Ed''] {{buchstein}}, in his play {{Dsh}} ([[Die Schweizer Heulsuse|“The Swiss Milquetoast”]]) that recommends when there are plausible alternative explanations for a person’s behaviour, one should choose the simplest-''minded'', preferring cloth-headedness or coincidence over the artful application of intelligence or inspiration (for beneficent actions), or “malice, spite, or virtue” (for odious ones). | ||
Until the contrary is proven, treat both the pinnacles of success and the chasms of calumny as the produce of ''accident'' and not intention. Give the benefit of the doubt to wrong-doers for deeds that present as wilful, and withhold it from do-gooders for their strokes of uncommon genius, until such time as there is no other realistic way of explaining them. | Until the contrary is proven, treat both the pinnacles of success and the chasms of calumny as the produce of ''accident'' and not intention. Give the benefit of the doubt to wrong-doers for deeds that present as wilful, and withhold it from do-gooders for their strokes of uncommon genius, until such time as there is no other realistic way of explaining them. | ||