Single Idea 12148

[catalogued under 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 2. Demonstration]

Full Idea

Demonstrations are probative deductions [sullogismos] which give the explanation [aitias] and the reason why.

Clarification

'Probative' means providing proof

Gist of Idea

Demonstrations are syllogisms which give explanations

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 85b24)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.37


A Reaction

This notion seems to have slipped out of modern philosophy of science, because (while scientists have just pressed on) philosophers of science have raised so many sceptical questions that they have, I would say, lost the plot.