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Single Idea 16798

[from 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd)' by Peter Lipton, in 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 2. Demonstration ]

Full Idea

Explanatory considerations are an important guide to inference, …we work out what to infer from our evidence by thinking about what would explain that evidence.

Gist of Idea

We infer from evidence by working out what would explain that evidence

Source

Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], Pref 2nd ed)

Book Reference

Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.-4


A Reaction

I take this to be inferences about the physical world, rather than of pure logic. The thesis sounds a bit thin, since there is no logical sense of 'infer' here, so all it could mean is 'what caused that?'.