Parsimony is not Ockham's Razor.

Parsimony is more closely related to simplicity than is Ockham's Razor, but even this is not an exact match. Significant differences remain between the two.

Parsimony is perhaps best embodied in the phrase:


"Making the most of what you have."


Or, if you're German, "Waste not want not." :-)

<sigh> I'll try another crack at it:

Parsimony is to take the most advantageous trajectory through a problem space—not necessarily the simplest or most direct— within the existing set of constraints. This is not necessarily the trajectory that uses the least amount of resources. In fact it could be quite a bit more complex and twisted than the obviously most direct path. What matters is that it is the path that produces the best advantage within the constraints of resources and time available.

<sigh> still doesn't feel right.

Perhaps Einstein had it nailed all along:


"Things should be made as simple as possible . . . but no simpler."


No . . . no . . . still not quite right.