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Single Idea 17676
[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation
]
Full Idea
The best explanation explains the most by means of the least. Explanation unifies.
Gist of Idea
Best explanations explain the most by means of the least
Source
David M. Armstrong (What is a Law of Nature? [1983], 05.4)
Book Ref
Armstrong,D.M.: 'What is a Law of Nature?' [CUP 1985], p.73
A Reaction
To get unification, you need to cite the diversity of what is explained, and not the mere quantity. The force of gravity unifies because it applies to such a diversity of things.
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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