Simplicity, Inference and Modelling: Keeping it Sophisticatedly Simple - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521803616 ISBN 13: 9780521803618

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 2002

Synopsis

The idea that simplicity matters in science is as old as science itself, with the much cited example of Ockham's Razor, 'entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem': entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity. A problem with Ockham's razor is that nearly everybody seems to accept it, but few are able to define its exact meaning and to make it operational in a non-arbitrary way. Using a multidisciplinary perspective including philosophers, mathematicians, econometricians and economists, this 2002 monograph examines simplicity by asking six questions: what is meant by simplicity? How is simplicity measured? Is there an optimum trade-off between simplicity and goodness-of-fit? What is the relation between simplicity and empirical modelling? What is the relation between simplicity and prediction? What is the connection between simplicity and convenience? The book concludes with reflections on simplicity by Nobel Laureates in Economics.

About this title

Review

"This lively and informative exposition of several points of view...will make this book pleasurable reading for not only philosophers of science and epistemologists, but also for those data analysts interested in formalizing the foundations that guide and shape their modeling practices." Journal of American Statistical Association

Book Description

The idea that simplicity matters in science is as old as science itself, with the much cited example of Ockham's Razor, 'entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem': entities are not to be multiplied beyond necessity. Using a multidisciplinary perspective this 2002 monograph asks 'What is meant by simplicity?'

Edition details

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 2002
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0521803616
• ISBN 13: 9780521803618
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 314
• Editor: Zellner Arnold, Keuzenkamp Hugo A., McAleer Michael