Explanatory Power Quote by Gary R. Habermas
““among this pool are these: (a) explanatory power, (b) explanatory scope, (c) plausibility, (d) degree of "ad hoc-ness" and (e) conformity with other beliefs. The more explanatory power and scope and the more plausibility and conformity with other beliefs an explanation has, the better it is. The less ad hoc (adjusted, contrived, artificial) the explanation, the better as well. The trick is to subject all explanation options to these””
About This Quote
Source Book: Theory of Explanation, Gary R. Habermas, 1995
An explanation is better when it has strong power, broad scope, high plausibility, aligns with other beliefs, and avoids ad‑hoc constructions.
In simple terms: Good explanations are powerful, broad, plausible, consistent, and simple.
Key Takeaway
Aim for explanations that meet these criteria.
Themes
philosophy
epistemology
logic
Mood
analytical
critical
Type
philosophical
academic
When to use this quote
- academic research
- policy analysis
- scientific modeling
Key Concepts
explanatory power
scope
plausibility
coherence
parsimony
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you evaluate each criterion?
- When might a simpler explanation be preferable?
A Different Perspective
Complex criteria may be hard to assess in practice.
