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Full Idea
Can events whose probabilities are low be explained?
Gist of Idea
Can events whose probabilities are low be explained?
Source
Wesley Salmon (Four Decades of Scientific Explanation [1989], 3.6)
Book Ref
Salmon,Wesley C.: 'Four Decades of Scientific Explanation', ed/tr. Humphreys,Paul [Pittsburgh 2006], p.103
A Reaction
I take this to be one of the reasons why explanation must ultimately reside at the level of individual objects and events, rather than residing with generalisations and laws.
| 13056 | Statistical explanation needs relevance, not high probability [Salmon] |
| 13057 | Think of probabilities in terms of propensities rather than frequencies [Salmon] |
| 13060 | Can events whose probabilities are low be explained? [Salmon] |
| 16274 | If the well-ordering of a pack of cards was by shuffling, the explanation would make it more surprising [Lewis] |
| 16840 | To maximise probability, don't go beyond your data [Lipton] |
| 6756 | Probabilistic-statistical explanations don't entail the explanandum, but makes it more likely [Bird] |
| 6760 | An operation might reduce the probability of death, yet explain a death [Bird] |