This article discusses why the development of physics follows the principle of "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication" from the perspective of the philosophy of science. It explores how the pursuit of simplicity in science leads to more effective approaches in approaching scientific truths. Drawing from considerations of scientific methodology, it explains why falsifiability is a crucial factor in discovering scientific truths within physics, necessitating adherence to Occam's razor principle. The article emphasizes that this principle not only guides scientific thinking but also serves as a criterion for evaluating scientific practices. Given recent instances of certain unethical practices in physics research blurring ethical lines, the article suggests that deviating from the Occam's razor principle might be a methodological root of such issues.
SUN Changpu
. The methodology of physics in pursuing the beauty of truth: From the falsifiability of science to Occam's razor principle[J]. Science & Technology Review, 2024
, 42(10)
: 46
-54
.
DOI: 10.3981/j.issn.1000-7857.2023.08.01287
[1] 杨振宁, 翁帆. 晨曦集[M]. 北京: 商务印书馆, 2018: 3- 19.
[2] 迈克尔·斯特雷文斯. 知识机器[M]. 北京: 中信出版社, 2022.
[3] 孙昌璞. 当代理论物理发展趋势之我见[J]. 物理学报, 2022, 71(1): 010101.
[4] 宋春丹. 王元：纯粹数学的美丽与哀愁[J]. 中国新闻周刊, 2021(997): 66-71.
[5] Occam's razor[EB/OL]. [2023-08-23]. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occam%27s_razor.
[6] 孙昌璞. 量子力学诠释问题[J]. 物理, 2017, 46(8): 481- 496.
[7] 孙昌璞. 量子力学诠释与波普尔哲学的“三个世界”[J]. 中国科学院院刊, 2021, 36(3): 296-307.
[8] Li S W, Cai C Y, Liu X F, et al. Objectivity in quantum measurement[J]. Foundations of Physice, 2018, 48(6): 654-667.
[9] 卡尔·波普尔. 科学发现的逻辑[M]. 查汝强, 邱仁宗, 万木春, 译. 杭州: 中国美术学院出版社, 2008.
[10] 卡尔·波普尔. 客观的知识：一个进化论的研究[M]. 杭州: 中国美术学院出版社, 2003.
[11] 卡尔·波普尔. 猜想与反驳: 科学知识的增长[M]. 杭州: 中国美术学院出版社, 2010.
[12] 王鑫, 张慧琴, 孙昌璞. 从智库研究到智库科学[J]. 中国科学院院刊, 2021, 36(7): 797-806.
[13] Bringing out the Occam’s razor in peer-review[J]. Nature Nanotechnology, 2022, 17(6): 561.
[14] Mazin I. Inverse Occam's razor[J]. Nature Physics, 2022, 18: 367-368.
[15] 王鑫, 张慧琴, 孙昌璞. 用科学精神抵御学术滑向灰色地带[J].科学与社会, 2023, 13(1): 1-15.
[16] Qiao G J, Li S W, Sun C P. Magnetic field constraint for Majorana zero modes in a hybrid nanowire[J]. Physical Review B, 2022, 106(10): 104517.
[17] 平婧, 张慧琴, 董辉, 等. 科技评审中的逆向选择问题[J]. 科学与社会, 2019, 9(3): 8-21.
