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Next: Probability Up: The Philosophy of Science Previous: Theory and observation

Scientific explanation


`To say that a theory explains some fact or other, is to assert a relationship between this theory and that fact, which is independent of the questions whether the real world, as a whole, fits that theory.' Discuss.


Readings

Hempel (1965, ch.10)

van Fraassen (1980, ch. 5)


Further Readings

Friedman (1974)

Lewis (1979a)



Sandy Berkovski