[vhawk01]

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The people arguing that OR implies that certain theories are more likely 'true' or 'correct' have different definitions of those words than is meant in an empirical/scientific sense.

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Not really. To wit:

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This is often paraphrased as "All things being equal, the simplest solution tends to be the best one." In other words, when multiple competing theories are equal in other respects, the principle recommends selecting the theory that introduces the fewest assumptions and postulates the fewest hypothetical entities. It is in this sense that Occam's razor is usually understood.

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What definition of "best"? My contention is that the only definition of "best" that can possibly have any meaning is "the most likely to be correct."

Again, if the simplest explanation is not more likely to be true than alternatives containing unnecessary complications, the what benefit is choosing the simpler one? What is the justification? These are the essential questions that keep getting dodged.

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I did my best to show the benefit, but I am at a loss to show the justification. I was always under the impression that the Razor is, in fact, unjustified. The benefit is simply that it is always easier if we can decide on one explanation or theory to talk about, EVEN IF WE REALIZE that there are an infinite number of acceptable ones. We could make any sort of arbitrary selection we wish, but the only one that ISN'T arbitrary is the Razor. Its my understanding that it is just as justified to instead choose the most complicated one, but that it is, in practice, impossible to do so. We can always find a more complicated explanation.

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As a matter of fact, Boro, if you interpret the Razor the way you seem to be doing, then what can the phrase "all else being equal" possibly mean? How could any two theories ever be equal in all else, since obviously "probability of being correct" is just about the only relevant "all else" and you are deeming it exactly NOT equal?