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Single Idea 16818

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

Full Idea

There is a distinction between the explanation best supported by the evidence, and the explanation that would provide the most understanding: in short, between the 'likeliest' and the 'loveliest' explanation.

Gist of Idea

The 'likeliest' explanation is the best supported; the 'loveliest' gives the most understanding

Source

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

Book Ref

Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.57

A Reaction

A very nice, very real and very illuminating distinction. Presumably truth must play an important role in both likelihood and loveliness.

The 26 ideas with the same theme [aim of picking the best from among explanations]:

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