Single Idea 5340

[catalogued under 14. Science / A. Basis of Science / 4. Prediction]

Full Idea

Explanation does not entail prediction.

Gist of Idea

Explanation does not entail prediction

Source

Owen Flanagan (The Problem of the Soul [2002], p. 73n)

Book Reference

Flanagan,Owen: 'The Problem of the Soul' [Basic Books 2003], p.73


A Reaction

Presumably the inverse of this is also true, as we might be able to predict through pure induction, without knowing why something happened. We predict that smoking is likely to cause cancer. Complex things might be explicable but unpredictable.