Abstract
The inference to the best explanation (IBE) appeals to how hypotheses would explain certain facts. If a hypothesis explains well and better than any other (available) hypotheses, IBE concludes that it is true. Our work examines what makes it the case that some hypotheses would explain facts better than others. We also examine other non-explanatory features which are (thought to be) correlated with the truth of a proposed explanation. We name all these features explanatory virtues, and they are the measure employed by IBE of goodness of explanation. Our research has the purpose of investigating four chief (proposed) explanatory virtues: simplicity, unification, non ad hocness, and coherence. We intend to study the description and justification of these proposed virtues. Our final goal is to improve and appraise the employment of IBE, a valuable tool in philosophy.
Highlights
An explanation, we propose, is a reason why something is the case
We name all these features explanatory virtues, and they are the measure employed by inference to the best explanation (IBE) of goodness of explanation
Coherence and unification can be assessed with information about the coherence and unification of explanations in reality, a difficult task perhaps best pursued in the metaphysics of physics and in applied systems theory
Summary
We propose, is a reason why something is the case. For instance, causes are reasons why their effects obtain, while arranged parts are reasons why their wholes exist. Abstract The inference to the best explanation (IBE) appeals to how hypotheses would explain certain facts. If a hypothesis explains well and better than any other (available) hypotheses, IBE concludes that it is true. We examine other non-explanatory features which are (thought to be) correlated with the truth of a proposed explanation. We name all these features explanatory virtues, and they are the measure employed by IBE of goodness of explanation.
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