Classic use of ' Ockhams Razor " in the 18th century

William of Occam lived centuries before but codification of this idea had to wait till the Scottish enlightenment.   The phrase Occam's razor is recorded in 1852 by the Scottish metaphysician Sir William Hamilton.  https://theanarchistlibrary.org/library/marquis-de-sade-dialogue-between-a-p... And yes, Virginia, if there was a God it would be necessary to destroy it.