Inference to the best explanation
Readings
Inferential virtues
- Simplicity, mechanism, fertility (fruitfulnesss), precision, scope, coherence with background beliefs (unity, consilience)
Hungerford's objection
- "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" - What counts as the best theory is relative.
- Lipton: Relative to accessible evidence, but not that relative.
Voltaire's objection
- We might not be in the best possible world. The best theory need not be true.
- Lipton: Reduces to Hume's problem.
Category.SciNotes