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Single Idea 5363

[from 'Problems of Philosophy' by Bertrand Russell, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / a. Best explanation ]

Full Idea

If the cat appears at one moment in one part of the room, and at another in another part, it is natural to suppose that it has moved from the one to the other, passing over a series of intermediate positions.

Gist of Idea

If the cat reappears in a new position, presumably it has passed through the intermediate positions

Source

Bertrand Russell (Problems of Philosophy [1912], Ch. 2)

Book Reference

Russell,Bertrand: 'The Problems of Philosophy' [OUP 1995], p.10


A Reaction

This example seems perfect as an illustration of inference to the best explanation (now called 'abduction'), and that seems to me the absolute key to human knowledge. The cat example is what made me a devotee of Bertrand Russell.