( ( To me ) ( , ( parsimony ( ( ( ( ( is ( ( a characteristic ) ( of ( ( ( ( a theory ) , ) ( not of ) ) ( the world ) ) ) ) ) -- ) but ) ( is ( ( ( a ( relative concept ) ) , ) ( relative ( to ( other theories ) ) ) ) ) ) . ) ) ) )
(ROOT (S (PP (TO To) (NP (PRP me))) (, ,) (NP (NN parsimony)) (VP (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN characteristic)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT a) (NN theory)) (, ,) (CONJP (RB not) (IN of)) (NP (DT the) (NN world)))))) (: --) (CC but) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ relative) (NN concept)) (, ,) (ADVP (JJ relative) (PP (TO to) (NP (JJ other) (NNS theories))))))) (. .)))
To me, parsimony is a characteristic of a theory, not of the world--but is a relative concept, relative to other theories.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN law)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NN parsimony)))) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT the) (JJ scientific) (NN concept)) (VP (VBG stating) (SBAR (IN that) (S (SBAR (WHADVP (WRB when)) (S (VP (VBG looking) (PP (IN at) (NP (CD two))) (NP (VBG competing) (NNS theories))))) (, ,) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN one)) (PP (IN with) (NP (JJR fewer) (NNS assumptions)))) (VP (MD should) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN chosen))))))))) (. .)))