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Single Idea 1678
[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation
]
Full Idea
Universals are more explanatory (for something which holds in itself is itself explanatory of itself; and universals are primitive; hence universals are explanatory) - so universal demonstrations are better.
Gist of Idea
Universals give better explanations, because they are self-explanatory and primitive
Source
Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 85b25)
Book Ref
Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.37
The
26 ideas
with the same theme
[aim of picking the best from among explanations]:
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1678
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Universals give better explanations, because they are self-explanatory and primitive
[Aristotle]
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13158
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The Copernican theory is right because it is the only one offering a good explanation
[Leibniz]
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16835
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The Methods of Difference and of Agreement are forms of inference to the best explanation
[Mill, by Lipton]
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16861
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A false theory could hardly rival the explanatory power of natural selection
[Darwin]
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14790
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'Abduction' is beginning a hypothesis, particularly if it includes preference of one explanation over others
[Peirce]
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14791
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Abduction involves original suggestions, and not just the testing involved in induction
[Peirce]
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5363
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If the cat reappears in a new position, presumably it has passed through the intermediate positions
[Russell]
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5367
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Belief in real objects makes our account of experience simpler and more systematic
[Russell]
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18713
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If an explanation is good, the symbol is used properly in the future
[Wittgenstein]
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17676
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Best explanations explain the most by means of the least
[Armstrong]
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17060
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Best Explanation is the core notion of epistemology
[Harman, by Smart]
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16824
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Is Inference to the Best Explanation nothing more than inferring the likeliest cause?
[Lipton]
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16817
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Best Explanation as a guide to inference is preferable to best standard explanations
[Lipton]
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16818
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The 'likeliest' explanation is the best supported; the 'loveliest' gives the most understanding
[Lipton]
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16819
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IBE is inferring that the best potential explanation is the actual explanation
[Lipton]
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16820
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Finding the 'loveliest' potential explanation links truth to understanding
[Lipton]
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16828
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IBE is not passive treatment of data, but involves feedback between theory and data search
[Lipton]
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16844
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A contrasting difference is the cause if it offers the best explanation
[Lipton]
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16853
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We select possible explanations for explanatory reasons, as well as choosing among them
[Lipton]
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3232
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Abduction could have true data and a false conclusion, and may include data not originally mentioned
[Rey]
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6360
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Scientific confirmation is best viewed as inference to the best explanation
[Pollock/Cruz]
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17599
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The best theory has the highest subjective (Bayesian) probability?
[Thagard]
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4634
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Abduction aims at simplicity, testability, coherence and comprehensiveness
[Baggini /Fosl]
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4637
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To see if an explanation is the best, it is necessary to investigate the alternative explanations
[Baggini /Fosl]
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6785
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Inference to the Best Explanation is done with facts, so it has to be realist
[Bird]
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17403
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The periodic table suggests accommodation to facts rates above prediction
[Scerri]
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