Full Idea
According to the 'unification' model of explanation, we come to understand a phenomenon when we see how it fit together with other phenomena into unified whole.
Gist of Idea
An explanation unifies a phenomenon with our account of other phenomena
Source
Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], 02 'Reason')
Book Reference
Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.28
A Reaction
[He cites Kitcher 1989] This works quite well for a lot of explanation, but a revolutionary explanation might involve a completely new theory. Lipton says it is rather linguistic, and has no room for a regress of causes, or for singular explanations.