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Full Idea
According to Inference to the Best Explanation we do not infer the best actual explanation; rather we infer that the best of the available potential explanations is an actual explanation.
Gist of Idea
IBE is inferring that the best potential explanation is the actual explanation
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.58
A Reaction
Clearly to say that you should just accept the best available explanation is asking for trouble, if all the available explanations are absurd. But what are the criteria for saying the best one is the actual one?