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Single Idea 13049

[from 'Four Decades of Scientific Explanation' by Wesley Salmon, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations ]

Full Idea

The problem is to distinguish between laws and accidental generalizations, for laws have explanatory force while accidental generalizations, even if they are true, do not.

Gist of Idea

We must distinguish true laws because they (unlike accidental generalizations) explain things

Source

Wesley Salmon (Four Decades of Scientific Explanation [1989], 1.1)

Book Reference

Salmon,Wesley C.: 'Four Decades of Scientific Explanation', ed/tr. Humphreys,Paul [Pittsburgh 2006], p.14


A Reaction

[He is discussing Hempel and Oppenheim 1948] This seems obviously right, but I can only make sense of the explanatory power if we have identified the mechanism which requires the generalisation to continue in future cases.