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Single Idea 13056

[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / l. Probabilistic explanations ]

Full Idea

Statistical relevance, not high probability, is the key desideratum in statistical explanation.

Gist of Idea

Statistical explanation needs relevance, not high probability

Source

Wesley Salmon (Four Decades of Scientific Explanation [1989], 2.5)

Book Ref

Salmon,Wesley C.: 'Four Decades of Scientific Explanation', ed/tr. Humphreys,Paul [Pittsburgh 2006], p.59


A Reaction

I suspect that this is because the explanation will not ultimately be probabilistic at all, but mechanical and causal. Hence the link is what counts, which is the relevance. He notes that relevance needs two values instead of one high value.