From ancient times, a razor, blade, blade are considered a symbol of sharpness of mind. Stupidity is often called stupidity and is associated with a wooden deck or other objects that are unable to cut through all sorts of complex matters in one fell swoop. Insight into the very essence of the problem, its “surgical” understanding and subsequent cure - these are the true calling of both the scalpel and the intellect.
Hearing the expression "Hanlon razor", an uninitiated person might think that this is some kind of special design of the device, designed to remove the bristles from the surface of the face. Not at all, this phrase does not mean any material object. This is the name of the statement of the famous American writer Robert Anson Highline, which gained fame thanks to the second part of the book on the laws of Murphy published in 1980 . Translated from English, its essence lies in the call not to look for sophisticated cunning and cunning where only stupidity is present. So the story is not about how to shave with a razor ...
Why a razor? And why Hanlon? Let's start from the end. Henlon is, in fact, the same Highline, only the transcription is different. The author of many stories and novels himself had nothing against being called that, it was still difficult to mix up, he was too famous. Together with Asimov and Clark, Highline is among the "Big Three" of the best American science fiction writers.
Now about why the winged expression is given the name "Hanlon razor." An exact interpretation of this phrase was not given during the life of its author. Perhaps this is good, a certain mystery has always been considered an indispensable attribute of a writer, especially a science fiction writer. In addition, the lack of explanation gives freedom for self-reflection and approval, and this is also a creative process.
The most likely version seems to be that Hanlon's razor should be ready for every rational person, as they say, "in your pocket." This is in case of a non-standard situation, when it is not clear whether some kind of ornate attack against him, entailing unpleasant consequences, is committed, or the incident is the result of someone's stupidity, which, as you know, unlike the mind, there are no limits.
The oriental sage once remarked that cunning replaces fools 'mind and weaknesses' strength. Hanlon's razor cuts off with their sharp cutting edge all their weapons that they are trying, and often not without success, to confront a community of intelligent, but fragmented people, and sometimes, alas, helpless against insidiousness, even the most stupid and primitive.
However, the very idea of denying a conspiracy and explaining failure by simple incompetence was known even before Highline, he simply formulated it in an understandable and modern language. Napoleon Bonaparte sometimes had to restrain some of his commanders, who saw the causes of military embarrassment in espionage and treason, while they consisted of their own mistakes. And in the Soviet Union for a long time it was decided, on the contrary, to suggest malicious intent among those who said something wrong or did something. By stupidity ...
The contemporary Russian writer Pelevin also gave his version of Hanlon's razor, in which he claims that it’s not secret lodges, but a clear mess that rules the world.