Abstract
Inference to the best explanation (IBE) is theoretically interesting in that it promises to throw new light on what an explanation is. IBE challenges the standard view of the relation between inference and explanation. We tend to think that first we infer then we scan our pool of inferences for suitable explanations. But as Peter Lipton (2004, Chapter 4) convincingly argues, and as we all suspected from detective stories, this view seriously underestimates the epistemic role of explanation.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Ben-Menahem, Y. (1990). The inference to the best explanation. Erkenntnis 33: 319–344.
Bird, A. (1999). Scientific revolutions and inference to the best explanation. Danish yearbook of philosophy 34: 25–42.
Day, T. and H. Kincaid (1994). Putting inference to the best explanation in its place. Synthese 98: 271–295.
Duhem, P. (1906/1954). The aim and structure of physical theory (La theorie physique: son objet, sa structure). Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press.
Harman, G. (1965). Inference to the best explanation. Philosophical review 74: 88–95.
Hempel, C. G. and P. Oppenheim. (1948). Studies in the logic of explanation. Philosophy of science 15: 135–175.
Hempel, C. G. (1970). Aspects of scientific explanation. Oxford: Glencoe.
Holmberg, Å. (1964). Privatdetektiv Ture Sventon på nya äventyr; en samlingsvolym. Stockholm: Rabén & Sjögren.
Lipton, P. (1991). Inference to the best explanation. London: Routledge.
Lipton, P. (2001). Is explanation a guide to inference? A reply to Wesley C. Salmon. In Hon and Rakover (eds.): Explanation: Theoretical approaches and applications. Kluwer: 93–120.
Lipton, P. (2004). Inference to the best explanation. London: Routledge.
Peters, R. H. (1991). A critique for ecology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Salmon, W. C. (2001a). Explanation and confirmation. In Hon and Rakover (eds.): Explanation: Theoretical approaches and applications. Kluwer: 61–91.
Salmon, W. C. (2001b). Reflections of a bashful Bayesian: A reply to Peter Lipton. In Hon and Rakover (eds.): Explanation: Theoretical approaches and applications. Kluwer: 121–136.
van Fraassen, B. (1989). Laws and symmetry. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2007 Springer
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
PERSSON, J. (2007). IBE AND EBI. In: PERSSON, J., YLIKOSKI, P. (eds) RETHINKING EXPLANATION. BOSTON STUDIES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF SCIENCE, vol 252. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5581-2_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5581-2_10
Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht
Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5580-5
Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5581-2
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawPhilosophy and Religion (R0)