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Best of a Bad Lot · Rigorous Reasoning · Rigorous Reasoning

Concept · Best Explanation

Best of a Bad Lot

A concern that the 'best explanation' might still be poor if the real explanation was never among the considered candidates.

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Why it matters

This warning keeps abductive reasoning honest — 'best in the comparison' is not the same as 'correct'.

Where this shows up

Units and lessons using this concept

Following the links will take you to the page where this term is introduced in context.

Units (1)

Abductive Logic: Arguments to the Best ExplanationStudents learn how arguments to the best explanation work, how to compare competing hypotheses using explanatory virtues, and how to stat…

Lessons (3)

Capstone: Comparing Explanations in Real CasesAbductive Logic: Arguments to the Best Explanation Critiquing Best-Explanation ArgumentsAbductive Logic: Arguments to the Best Explanation Explanatory Virtues and Hypothesis ComparisonAbductive Logic: Arguments to the Best Explanation

Related

Other concepts in Best Explanation

Argument to the Best Explanation Coherence Explanatory Fit Explanatory Scope Hypothesis Observation Simplicity