Ch9

Front 1

abduction:

Back 1

The process of reasoning backwards from
observed phenomena to a hypothesis which would
explain that phenomenon.

Front 2

ad hoc hypothesis:

Back 2

A hypothesis or theory that can’t be verified
independently of the phenomenon it’s supposed to
explain.

Front 3

criteria of adequacy:

Back 3

Standards used to judge the acceptability of
explanatory theories.

Front 4

criteria of adequacy:

Back 4

as follows

Front 5

testability:

Back 5

A testable theory predicts something other than
what it was intended to explain, so that there is a
way to tell whether the theory is true or false.

Front 6

fruitfulness:

Back 6

A fruitful theory is one that makes novel
predictions.

Front 7

scope:

Back 7

A theory with scope explains or predicts
phenomena other than those which it was
introduced to explain.

Front 8

simplicity:

Back 8

A simple theory is one that makes as few
assumptions as possible.

Front 9

conservatism:

Back 9

A conservative theory is one that fits with
previously established scientific views.

Front 10

inference to the best explanation:

Back 10

A form of inductive reasoning in which we reason
from premises about observed states of affairs to
an explanation for them.

Front 11

theoretical explanation:

Back 11

A theory or hypothesis that tries to explain why
something is the way it is or why something
happened.