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The Four Rules of Reasoning in Philosophy

Isaac Newton is known as one of the most important philosophers and scientists within the Western World. His work Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy published in 1687 helped others understand the differences between science and magical thinking. The work put forward basic concepts that have ever since been part of scientific thinking. It is a process of weighing, comparing, measuring, reasoning, and philosophizing. Rule 1: We are to admit no more causes of natural things that such as are both true and sufficient to explain their appearances. Confounding variables in research is not a beneficial event for furthering understanding. We sometimes have this natural propensity to become more complex, more theoretical, and abstract in our overall analysis. The more parsimonious the explanations the more likely it is to be correct. Researchers should seek the simple explanations first before become complex. Rule 2: Therefore to the same natural effects we must, as