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Single Idea 6784

[from 'The Scientific Image' by Bas C. van Fraassen, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 3. Best Explanation / c. Against best explanation ]

Full Idea

Van Fraassen asks why we should think that the actual explanation of the evidence should be found among the theories we are considering, when there must be an infinity of theories which are also potential explanations of the evidence?

Gist of Idea

Why should the true explanation be one of the few we have actually thought of?

Source

report of Bas C. van Fraassen (The Scientific Image [1980]) by Alexander Bird - Philosophy of Science Ch.4

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.145


A Reaction

This has become one of the leading modern anti-realist arguments. We must introduce an element of faith here; presumably evolution makes us experts on immediate puzzles, competent on intermediate ones, and hopeful on remote ones.