PHIL 2505 Unit 3 AS1 - Practice Understanding and Evaluating Abductive Arguments

.docx

School

Kean University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

2505

Subject

Philosophy

Date

Feb 20, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by MasterGerbil4002

Seven Explanatory Virtues 1. Explanatoriness : Explanations must explain all the observed facts. 2. Depth : Explanations should not raise more questions than they answer. 3. Power : Explanations should apply in a range of similar contexts, not just the current situation in which the explanation is being offered. 4. Falsifiability : Explanations should be falsifiable—it must be possible for there to be evidence that would show that the explanation is incorrect. 5. Modesty : Explanations should not claim any more than is needed to explain the observed facts. Any details in the explanation must relate to explaining one of the observed facts. 6. Simplicity : Explanations that posit fewer entities or processes are preferable to explanations that posit more entities or processes. All other things being equal, the simplest explanation is the best. This is sometimes referred to as “ Ockham’s razor ” after William of Ockham (1287-1347), the medieval philosopher and logician. 7. Conservativeness : Explanations that force us to give up fewer well-established beliefs are better than explanations that force us to give up more well-established beliefs. SAMPLE: Bob explains the fact that he can’t remember what happened yesterday by saying that he must have been kidnapped by aliens, who performed surgery on him and then erased his memory of everything that happened the day before returning him to his house. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : no Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : This explanation is not simple . It posits the existence of aliens, which we’re not sure actually exist. It also lacks depth by raising more questions than it answers. How do we know aliens exist? More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : Bob may have suffered temporary amnesia from a concussion, or gotten black-out drunk. 1. Mrs. Jones hears strange noises at night such as the creaking of the floor downstairs and rattling of windows. She explains these phenomena by hypothesizing that there is a 37-pound badger that inhabits the house and that emerges at night in search of Wheat Thins and Oreos. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : No Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Simplicity – Does a 37- pound badger inhabit the house? Depth – Where does the badger stay? Why does it eat Wheat Thins and Oreos? More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : The creaking and rattling sounds are likely caused by windy weather. 2. Edward saw his friend Tom at the store in their hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska just an hour ago. Then, while watching the World Cup on television, he saw someone that looked just like Tom in the crowd at the game in Brazil. He hypothesizes that his friend Tom must have an identical twin that Tom has never told him about. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : No

PHIL 2505 | UNIT 3 AS1 | PRACTICE WITH ABDUCTIVE ARGUMENTS 2 Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Simplicity – Edward and Tom are from the same hometown, so how could Tom have a secret twin brother without Edward knowing? More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : There are many individuals who look similar, and that person on TV could have looked similar to Tom. 3. Edward’s friend Tom died two years ago. But just yesterday Tom saw someone who looked and spoke exactly like Tom. Edward hypothesizes that Tom must have come back to life. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : No Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Depth – The possible resurrection of Tom raises more questions than it answers. More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : That individual looked similar to Tom and Edward, and then thinking of his friend, believed this stranger also spoke like Tom. 4. Edward’s friend Tom died twenty years ago when Tom was just 18. But just yesterday Edward saw someone who looked and spoke exactly like Tom. Edward hypothesizes that Tom must have had a son that he did not know about and that this person must have been Tom’s son. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : No Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Modesty – Claims that Tom had a secret/unknown son. More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : The stranger may be an extended family member of Tom’s or just a stranger who looks/sounds similar to Tom. 5. Elise has the uncanny feeling that although her family members look exactly the same, something just isn’t right about them. She hypothesizes that her family members have been replaced with imposters who look and act exactly like her real family members and that no one can prove that this happened. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : No Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Falsifiability – With Elise’s reasoning there is a possiblity for there to be evidence that would show that her family members are real More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : Elise has Dementia, Alzheimer’s, or Capgras Syndrome. 6. John thinks that since something cannot come from nothing and since we know there was a Big Bang, an all-powerful but invisible and undetectable being must have been the cause of the Big Bang. Is this the best explanation? (yes or no) : Why or why not? (reference at least one explanatory virtue) : Falsifiability - There is no possibility for there to be evidence that would show John’s explanation is incorrect. More plausible explanations (if this argument is bad) : John is religious and does not want to explore the topic scientifically.

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help