Principle of Economy of Thought

Principle of “economy of thought”, or principle of “the least expenditure of energy”, is a basic theory in Machian epistemology. This principle advocates the use of the most economical, least strenuous or simplest principle that can explain everything in philosophical thinking, i.e., the principle of “sole existence of sensations”, which reduces the world to the world of sensations. Principle of economy of thought started from the doctrine of apriorism, it declared that both the causality and “substance” (matter) were “eliminated”, it negates the objective causality, and denies the viewpoint that sensations are the reflections of the objective world, regarded sensations as transcendental and as the sole existence, thus fell into pure subjective idealism, was not a “Marxist tendency” at all.

Principle of economy of thought was first put forward by Mach in History and Root of the Principle of the Conservation of Energy (1871), and further elaborated by him in The Science of Mechanics: A Critical and Historical Account of Its Development (1883), and Analysis of Sensations (1886).

In 1876, Avenarius called it “the principle of the least expenditure of energy” in Philosophy as Thinking about the World according to the Philosophy: Principle of the Smallest Measure of Force. Bazarov, a Russian supporter of empirio-criticism, held that since the principle has “economy” in its name, it was “unquestionably a ‘Marxist’ tendency in epistemology” research, thus opposed Marxist philosophy with the praise of empirio-criticism. “Principle of economy” thought is still a popular theory within the contemporary bourgeois philosophy circles.

Mach claimed that the form of thought is economic in nature—language itself is an invention and means for economical purposes. Words and concepts are simple and practical symbols that represent many sensory elements and are highly economical. He argued that science and thinking can also serve economical aims, because people can use simple formulas to explain various phenomena. The purpose of science is to replace or save experience by imitating and predicting facts. The purpose of teaching science is to enable one person to enjoy another’s experience and avoid the trouble of accumulating experience in person. Mach also argued that economic efficiency is the criterion for evaluation of scientists and scientific theories. The best scientists should be able to consume the least amount of energy in thinking, use the simplest possible method and the shortest time to acquire as much knowledge as possible. Among a variety of theories that are equally profound and perfect, the simplest and most economical are the most advanced and valuable.

Mach put forward the principle of economy of thought to provide methodology for natural science research, promote the development of natural science, and make natural science serve for helping people adapt to the environment. This intention was positive and reasonable. However, Mach’s principle of economy of thought denied that human thoughts and scientific concepts are the reflection of the objective reality and denied the objective existence of natural law as a research object in natural science. Thus, it fails to get rid of the thinking pattern of subjective idealism, but fell into the mud pit of relativism. Lenin revealed this essence in his book Materialism and Empirio-Criticism, pointing out that “Only by denying objective reality, that is, by denying the foundations of Marxism, can one seriously speak of economy of thought in the theory of knowledge!” For Lenin, advocating the principle of economy of thought was nothing more than “an attempt to smuggle in subjective idealism under a new guise”.