Occam's razor is used as a problem solving guide.
 Subsequently, Smart has been severely criticized for his use (or misuse) of Occam's razor and ultimately retracted his advocacy of it in this context
=== Formulations before William of Ockham ===The origins of what has come to be known as Occam's razor are traceable to the works of earlier philosophers such as John Duns Scotus (12651308), Robert Grosseteste (11751253), Maimonides (Moses ben-Maimon, 11381204), and even Aristotle (384322 BC)

