Economics Dictionary of ArgumentsHome
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| Best explanation: preference for one hypothesis over others. The choice can be done within a theory or result in the transition to another theory. See also explanation._____________Annotation: The above characterizations of concepts are neither definitions nor exhausting presentations of problems related to them. Instead, they are intended to give a short introduction to the contributions below. – Lexicon of Arguments. | |||
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Hartry Field on Best Explanation - Dictionary of Arguments
I 15 Best explanation/Field: the best explanation wants to maintain certain beliefs about phenomena - these phenomena are then accepted as naked truth. >Naked truth, >Phenomena. Problem: best explanation also leads to belief in unobservables - then observation should not make a difference! >Observation, >Unobservables. As-if statements: may not travel piggyback on real explanation. >As if. Restriction of the best explanation on observable: would cripple our beliefs. I 92 Best explanation/Field: solution: best explanation instead of enumarative induction - then modal completeness is irrelevant. >Completeness._____________Explanation of symbols: Roman numerals indicate the source, arabic numerals indicate the page number. The corresponding books are indicated on the right hand side. ((s)…): Comment by the sender of the contribution. Translations: Dictionary of Arguments The note [Concept/Author], [Author1]Vs[Author2] or [Author]Vs[term] resp. "problem:"/"solution:", "old:"/"new:" and "thesis:" is an addition from the Dictionary of Arguments. If a German edition is specified, the page numbers refer to this edition. |
Field I H. Field Realism, Mathematics and Modality Oxford New York 1989 Field II H. Field Truth and the Absence of Fact Oxford New York 2001 Field III H. Field Science without numbers Princeton New Jersey 1980 Field IV Hartry Field "Realism and Relativism", The Journal of Philosophy, 76 (1982), pp. 553-67 In Theories of Truth, Paul Horwich, Aldershot 1994 |
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> Counter arguments in relation to Best Explanation
