Back to the full dot-point answer
QLDPhilosophy and ReasonQuick questions
Unit 3: Reason and formal logic
Quick questions on Inference to the best explanation and abduction: QCE Philosophy and Reason
5short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is criteria for the best explanation?Show answer
Calling an explanation "best" is not arbitrary; philosophers list criteria a good explanation tends to satisfy:
What is the best of a bad lot?Show answer
If the true explanation was never on the table, the "best" one chosen may be wrong.
What is q1?Show answer
State the structure of an inference to the best explanation. [3 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Name and explain two criteria for judging which explanation is best. [4 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Explain the "best of a bad lot" objection. [3 marks]
Have a question we have not covered?
This dot-point answer is short enough that we have not extracted many short questions yet. Read the full dot-point answer or ask Mo, our study assistant, in the chat for follow ups.