Single Idea 6517

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / b. Aims of explanation]

Full Idea

The fact that order requires an explanation seems to be an a priori principle; ..we assume all possibilities are equally likely, and so no striking regularities should emerge; the sceptic replies that a highly ordered sequence is as likely as any other.

Gist of Idea

If all possibilities are equal, order seems (a priori) to need an explanation - or does it?

Source

Howard Robinson (Perception [1994], IX.3)

Book Reference

Robinson,Howard: 'Perception' [Routledge 2001], p.216


A Reaction

An independent notion of 'order' is required. If I write down '14356', and then throw 1 4 3 5 6 on a die, the match is the order; instrinsically 14356 is nothing special. If you threw the die a million times, a run of six sixes seems quite likely.