[axefrog]

Occam's razor is a guideline, not an immutable law.

[oniMaker]

Occam's razor would immediately discard quantum theory. Does that make it false?

[collyw]

Forgive my ignorance but haven't there been experiments that prove quantum theory? Why all the fuss about quantum computers if its just a pie in the sky hypothesis? (It's not a field I am familiar with other than on a very superficial level, so an "explain it like I'm 5" would be most useful in responses to my points).

[dragonwriter]

> Occam's razor would immediately discard quantum theory

No, it to wouldn't; quantum theory is quite plausibly the most parsimonious explanation consistent with the evidence.

[oniMaker]

The point is that it would seem ridiculous to start from nothing and jump to such a counter-intuitive theory.

[dragonwriter]

Occam's Razor has nothing to do with starting from nothing, it has to do with selecting among competing explanations for a set of known facts.