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Single Idea 16835
[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation
]
Full Idea
Like Mill's Method of Difference, applications of the Method of Agreement are naturally construed as inferences to the best explanation.
Gist of Idea
The Methods of Difference and of Agreement are forms of inference to the best explanation
Source
report of John Stuart Mill (System of Logic [1843], 3.07/8) by Peter Lipton - Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) 06 'The Method'
Book Ref
Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.99
A Reaction
This sort of thoroughly sensible approach to understanding modes of investigation has been absurdly sidelined by the desire to 'deduce' observations from 'laws'. Scientific investigation is no different from enquiry in daily life. Where are my glasses?
Related Ideas
Idea 16805
Causal inference is by spotting either Agreements or Differences [Mill, by Lipton]
Idea 16843
Mill's methods (Difference,Agreement,Residues,Concomitance,Hypothesis) don't nail induction [Mill, by Lipton]
The
51 ideas
from 'System of Logic'
8345
|
A cause is the total of all the conditions which inevitably produce the result
[Mill]
|
10391
|
Causes and conditions are not distinct, because we select capriciously from among them
[Mill]
|
4944
|
Mill says names have denotation but not connotation
[Mill, by Kripke]
|
7762
|
Proper names are just labels for persons or objects, and the meaning is the object
[Mill, by Lycan]
|
8625
|
What physical facts could underlie 0 or 1, or very large numbers?
[Frege on Mill]
|
5201
|
Mill says logic and maths is induction based on a very large number of instances
[Mill, by Ayer]
|
9360
|
If two black and two white objects in practice produced five, what colour is the fifth one?
[Lewis,CI on Mill]
|
12411
|
Mill is too imprecise, and is restricted to simple arithmetic
[Kitcher on Mill]
|
5656
|
Empirical theories of arithmetic ignore zero, limit our maths, and need probability to get started
[Frege on Mill]
|
17091
|
Explanation is fitting of facts into ever more general patterns of regularity
[Mill, by Ruben]
|
17086
|
Surprisingly, empiricists before Mill ignore explanation, which seems to transcend experience
[Mill, by Ruben]
|
17895
|
Combining two distinct assertions does not necessarily lead to a single 'complex proposition'
[Mill]
|
11156
|
The essence is that without which a thing can neither be, nor be conceived to be
[Mill]
|
9888
|
Mill mistakes particular applications as integral to arithmetic, instead of general patterns
[Dummett on Mill]
|
9796
|
Things possess the properties of numbers, as quantity, and as countable parts
[Mill]
|
9794
|
There are no such things as numbers in the abstract
[Mill]
|
9795
|
Numbers have generalised application to entities (such as bodies or sounds)
[Mill]
|
9798
|
Different parcels made from three pebbles produce different actual sensations
[Mill]
|
9797
|
'2 pebbles and 1 pebble' and '3 pebbles' name the same aggregation, but different facts
[Mill]
|
9799
|
3=2+1 presupposes collections of objects ('Threes'), which may be divided thus
[Mill]
|
9800
|
Arithmetic is based on definitions, and Sums of equals are equal, and Differences of equals are equal
[Mill]
|
9801
|
Numbers must be assumed to have identical units, as horses are equalised in 'horse-power'
[Mill]
|
16845
|
The whole theory of induction rests on causes
[Mill]
|
14547
|
The strict cause is the total positive and negative conditions which ensure the consequent
[Mill]
|
14545
|
A cause is an antecedent which invariably and unconditionally leads to a phenomenon
[Mill]
|
12190
|
Necessity is what will be, despite any alternative suppositions whatever
[Mill]
|
16805
|
Causal inference is by spotting either Agreements or Differences
[Mill, by Lipton]
|
16835
|
The Methods of Difference and of Agreement are forms of inference to the best explanation
[Mill, by Lipton]
|
16843
|
Mill's methods (Difference,Agreement,Residues,Concomitance,Hypothesis) don't nail induction
[Mill, by Lipton]
|
9806
|
Whatever is made up of parts is made up of parts of those parts
[Mill]
|
9803
|
We can't easily distinguish 102 horses from 103, but we could arrange them to make it obvious
[Mill]
|
9802
|
Numbers denote physical properties of physical phenomena
[Mill]
|
9804
|
Arithmetical results give a mode of formation of a given number
[Mill]
|
9805
|
12 is the cube of 1728 means pebbles can be aggregated a certain way
[Mill]
|
9417
|
What are the fewest propositions from which all natural uniformities could be inferred?
[Mill]
|
8377
|
Causation is just invariability of succession between every natural fact and a preceding fact
[Mill]
|
16859
|
Most perception is one-tenth observation and nine-tenths inference
[Mill]
|
16860
|
Inductive generalisation is more reliable than one of its instances; they can't all be wrong
[Mill]
|
9080
|
General conceptions are a necessary preliminary to Induction
[Mill]
|
9078
|
The study of the nature of Abstract Ideas does not belong to logic, but to a different science
[Mill]
|
9079
|
We can focus our minds on what is common to a whole class, neglecting other aspects
[Mill]
|
9081
|
We don't recognise comparisons by something in our minds; the concepts result from the comparisons
[Mill]
|
9082
|
Clear concepts result from good observation, extensive experience, and accurate memory
[Mill]
|
9624
|
Numbers are a very general property of objects
[Mill, by Brown,JR]
|
4773
|
Mill's regularity theory of causation is based on an effect preceded by a conjunction of causes
[Mill, by Psillos]
|
8741
|
Numbers must be of something; they don't exist as abstractions
[Mill]
|
4775
|
In Mill's 'Method of Agreement' cause is the common factor in a range of different cases
[Mill, by Psillos]
|
4776
|
In Mill's 'Method of Difference' the cause is what stops the effect when it is removed
[Mill, by Psillos]
|
10427
|
All names are names of something, real or imaginary
[Mill]
|
22623
|
Necessity can only mean what must be, without conditions of any kind
[Mill]
|
8742
|
The only axioms needed are for equality, addition, and successive numbers
[Mill, by Shapiro]
|