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4 - Explanation and Prediction

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 June 2022

Kevin McCain
Affiliation:
University of Alabama, Birmingham
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Summary

In this chapter we’re looking at the relation between scientific explanations and predictions. It is tempting to think that the only difference between explanations and predictions is that one looks back and tells us how or why things happened as they did, and the other looks forward and tells us how or why certain things will (or are likely to) happen. This thought can seem particularly plausible when we consider that in many cases a good scientific hypothesis will both explain phenomena and allow us to make accurate predictions. Despite its initial plausibility, the idea that explanation and prediction are symmetrical is mistaken. The way to see this is to take a look at a particular theory of scientific explanation that entails this relationship between explanation and prediction. The particular theory of scientific explanation in question, the covering law model, which we discussed in Chapter 2, is false. One of the reasons that this theory of explanation fails helps illustrate the fact that explanation and prediction are not symmetrical.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2022

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  • Explanation and Prediction
  • Kevin McCain, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  • Book: Understanding How Science Explains the World
  • Online publication: 17 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108997027.006
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  • Explanation and Prediction
  • Kevin McCain, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  • Book: Understanding How Science Explains the World
  • Online publication: 17 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108997027.006
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Explanation and Prediction
  • Kevin McCain, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  • Book: Understanding How Science Explains the World
  • Online publication: 17 June 2022
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108997027.006
Available formats
×