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Full Idea
Explanatory considerations can play a role in the generation of potential explanations as well as in the subsequent selection from among them.
Gist of Idea
We select possible explanations for explanatory reasons, as well as choosing among them
Source
Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], 09 'The two-stage')
Book Ref
Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.150
A Reaction
Lipton offers this to meet an obvious objection to Inference to the Best Explanation - that compiling the possible explanations seems to need guidance. Seems a good reply.