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Single Idea 6759

[from 'Philosophy of Science' by Alexander Bird, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / e. Lawlike explanations ]

Full Idea

All animals with a liver also have a heart; so we can deduce from this plus the existence of Fido's liver that he also has a heart, but his liver does not explain why he has a heart.

Gist of Idea

Livers always accompany hearts, but they don't explain hearts

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.74


A Reaction

This is a counterexample to Hempel's deductive-nomological view of explanation. It seems a fairly decisive refutation of any attempt to give a simple rule for explaining things. Different types of explanation compete, and there is a subjective element.