Single Idea 16824

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation]

Full Idea

A suspicion is that Inference to the Best Explanation is nothing more than Inference to the Likeliest Cause in fancy dress, and so fails to account for the symptoms of likeliness.

Gist of Idea

Is Inference to the Best Explanation nothing more than inferring the likeliest cause?

Source

Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], 04 'Attractions')

Book Reference

Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.70


A Reaction

In a lot of cases the cause is the explanation. An explanation might be the absence of a cause (as in 'you forgot to switch it on'). Lipton's 'lovely' explanations go further, and reveal a network of causes.