"Ockham's razor" forms an argument against dualism because
A) Dualism cannot explain all of the phenomena to be explained.
B) Dualism has fewer explanatory resources available.
C) A theory that matches world religions is preferable to a theory that does not.
D) A theory with just physical stuff is simpler than a theory with both physical and nonphysical stuff.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Ockham's razor is a principle that suggests preferring the simplest explanation that accounts for all the observed phenomena. Dualism, which posits both physical and nonphysical stuff (like mind and body as separate entities), is more complex than materialism, which only posits physical stuff. Therefore, according to Ockham's razor, a theory that only involves physical stuff (and not both physical and nonphysical stuff) is simpler and thus preferable.

"Ockham's Razor" Forms an Argument Against Dualism Because