“If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck – it’s a duck.”  – Harlan Watson

Simply put this logical concept states that any phenomenon should make as few assumptions as possible. After you eliminate all assumptions that make no difference to the outcome you have the simplest answer. You’ve probably heard the saying “All other things being equal, the simplest solution is the best.” This is Occam’s Razor.

If two theories are equal we may be able to eliminate one as being too complex or introducing new phenomenon that are not necessary. Succinctness is what we are looking for here. The razor cuts away the bull or unneeded.

So a light in the sky is better explained as a star, Venus, drunken rednecks, weather balloons, lightening, airplanes, and an infinite number of other things before we get to E.T. See simple.

Now you can do it too.