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Full Idea
The probabilistic-statistical view of explanation (also called inductive-statistical explantion) is similar to deductive-nomological explanation, but instead of entailing the explanandum a probabilistic-statistical explantion makes it very likely.
Clarification
The 'explanandum' is the thing being explained
Gist of Idea
Probabilistic-statistical explanations don't entail the explanandum, but makes it more likely
Source
Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.2)
Book Ref
Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.69
A Reaction
If people have umbrellas up, does that explain rain? Does the presence of a psychopath in the audience explain why I don't go to a rock concert? Still, it has a point.
| 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] |