Article/Publication Details

Inference to the Best Explanation and Disjunctive Explanations

(Original title: Inference to the Best Explanation and Disjunctive Explanations)
Organon F, 2015, vol. 22, No 2, pp. 143-162.
Language: English
File to download: PDF*
BibTex EndNote Tagged EndNote XML RIS

Document Statistics:

Number of visits: 3,341
Number of visits today: 0
Last visit: 03.12.2024 - 12:31
PDF downloads: 2136

Abstract

In this paper I will examine Helen Beebee’s argument that anti-Humeans are not in a better position to justify induction. I will first argue that her argument proves too much and that it can jeopardize the status of inference to the best explanation as a useful inductive principle. I will then propose a principle that should govern our use of disjunctive explanations in the context of inference to the best explanation and show that Beebee’s use of disjunctive explanations violates this principle.

Keywords

David Armstrong, Disjunctive explanation, Helen Beebee, inference to the best explanation

*The article is subject to copyright.