Home / Business & Management / Business Strategy / Logical and Critical Thinking / Inference to the best explanation
Inference to the best explanation
We often conclude that the best available explanation of an observation is probably true *because* it is best available explanation.
Inferences to the best explanation are common in scientific reasoning.
We offer an inference to the best explanation when we conclude that the best available explanation of an observation or state of affairs is probably true because it’s the best available explanation of the observation. A little more formally:
- S is a state of affairs, a collection of data, facts, observations, givens.
- A hypothesis, H, would, if true, explain S.
- No other hypothesis can explain S as well as H does.
- Therefore, probably,
- H is true.
Reach your personal and professional goals
Unlock access to hundreds of expert online courses and degrees from top universities and educators to gain accredited qualifications and professional CV-building certificates.
Join over 18 million learners to launch, switch or build upon your career, all at your own pace, across a wide range of topic areas.
