Induction, deduction and inference to the best explanation

Authors

  • Rodolfo Gaeta

Abstract

Starting from the concept of abduction coined by Pierce, Harman, Josephson and Psillos have recently claimed that inference to the best explanation is the scientific method par excellence and favour a realist conception of scientific theories. In this paper, I evaluate some of the arguments proposed by those philosophers in order to show that inference to the best explanation overcomes some difficulties faced by enumerative induction and the hypothetical-deductive method, concluding that such arguments have some relevant deficiencies.

Key words: abduction, hypothetical deductivism, induction, inference to the best explanation, scientific realism.

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Published

2021-06-04

How to Cite

GAETA, R. Induction, deduction and inference to the best explanation. Filosofia Unisinos / Unisinos Journal of Philosophy, São Leopoldo, v. 8, n. 2, p. 83–93, 2021. Disponível em: https://revistas.unisinos.br/index.php/filosofia/article/view/5813. Acesso em: 13 may. 2025.

Issue

Vol. 8 No. 2 (2007): May/August

Section

Articles

License

I grant the Filosofia Unisinos – Unisinos Journal of Philosophy the first publication of my article, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution license 4.0 (which allows sharing of work, recognition of authorship and initial publication in this journal).

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