Analysing your IQ
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Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence or accident.
Hanlon's Razor isn't just theory—it's a practical framework for better decisions. This page explains how it works and how to apply it.
Before assuming bad intent, consider that people may simply be confused, busy, or misinformed.
This model works because it strips away irrelevant detail and exposes the core structure of a problem. Most people reason by analogy ("what do others do?"); this framework forces you to think from first principles.
Your colleague didn't CC you to spite you—they just forgot.
Use Hanlon's Razor when facing complex decisions with multiple variables. It's especially powerful when conventional wisdom seems wrong or when you're operating in unfamiliar territory.
Over-applying: Not every problem benefits from this model. Match the tool to the situation.
Under-applying: People learn the model but don't practice it. Application takes repetition.
Misunderstanding the principle: Surface-level understanding leads to poor execution. Study the examples.
Ignoring context: The same model works differently in different domains. Adapt accordingly.
Identify a current decision you're facing. Write down the assumptions you're making. Challenge each one.
Look at a past failure. Apply Hanlon's Razor retroactively—would it have changed the outcome?
Teach the model to someone else. If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
Set a reminder to apply this model once per week for the next month. Track the results.
No single model handles every situation. Build a toolkit of complementary frameworks.
Mental models require specific cognitive traits to execute. Do you have the Emotional Health for this?
Never attribute to malice what can be adequately explained by incompetence or accident.
Before assuming bad intent, consider that people may simply be confused, busy, or misinformed.
Your colleague didn't CC you to spite you—they just forgot.
Use Hanlon's Razor when facing complex decisions in the problem solving domain, when conventional approaches aren't working, or when you need a structured framework for analysis.
Hanlon's Razor is used by strategic thinkers, business leaders, and anyone who needs to make high-stakes decisions under uncertainty. It's particularly popular in investing, startups, and engineering.
Yes. Mental models are learnable skills, not innate talents. The key is deliberate practice—actively applying the model to real decisions, not just reading about it.