Suppositional Reasoning in Scientific Explanations (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9783836456227)

To suppose X means to pretend to change one's belief for the sake of the argument to include X. I examine the role of suppositional reasoning in the evaluation of purported scientific explanations of various sorts, based on Hempel and Oppenheim's deductive-nomological and inductive-statistical explanations. First, for each type of explanation, I present the suppositional reasoning conditions it must satisfy. Second, I argue that a specific decision making method (Isaac Levi's) should be used to determine how one is to change one's beliefs for the sake of the argument in each case. Third, I evaluate in detail whether purported explanations, both intuitively explanatory and intuitively non-explanatory satisfy (or do not satisfy) these conditions. Fourth, I show that the suppositional reasoning conditions for explanations, when evaluated correctly, systematically solve the many problems of the original Hempel-Oppenheim model of explanations.

Author: Avital Pilpel
ISBN-10: 3836456222
ISBN-13: 9783836456227
Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Mueller E.K.
Language: English
Published: 07/08/2008
Pages: 104
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.33lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.22d