Hanlon's razor

Adage to assume stupidity over malice / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:

Can you list the top facts and stats about Hanlon's razor?

Summarize this article for a 10 years old

SHOW ALL QUESTIONS

Hanlon's razor is an adage or rule of thumb that states:[1]

"Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

Known in several other forms, it is a philosophical razor that suggests a way of eliminating unlikely explanations for human behavior. It is probably named after Robert J. Hanlon, who submitted the statement to Murphy's Law Book Two (1980).[1] Similar statements have been recorded since at least the 18th century.