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Single Idea 16851

[from 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd)' by Peter Lipton, in 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 1. Observation ]

Full Idea

The inferential path to unobservables is often the same as to unobserved observables. In these two sorts of case, the reason for belief can be equally strong, so the suggestion that we infer truth in one case but not the other seems perverse.

Gist of Idea

The inference to observables and unobservables is almost the same, so why distinguish them?

Source

Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], 09 'Voltaire's')

Book Reference

Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.146


A Reaction

[Van Fraassen 1980 is the target of this] Van F seems to be in the grip of some sort of verificationism, which I always disliked on the grounds that speculation can be highly meaningful. Why embrace something because it 'could' be observed?