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    An explanation that can accommodate any data provides no ... — Carmelics
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    Challenges→The assumption of a miracle can sometimes be the most rational explanation for a reported event

    An explanation that can accommodate any data provides no genuine rational traction over rivals and cannot count as 'most rational' in any rigorous Bayesian or abductive framework.

    ?Rate how convincing each reason is below to see the overall strength.
    1 reason for
    1 reason against

    Reasons For

    1 perspective
    Reason for
    ?
    • 1.Bayesian confirmation requires theories to assign higher probability to observed data than rivals; unfalsifiable theories assign equal probability to all outcomes.
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    • 2.Post-hoc explanatory flexibility increases degrees of freedom without predictive gain, violating parsimony principles central to abductive reasoning.
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    • 3.Empirical underdetermination is epistemically problematic only when theories are equally accommodating; discriminative power requires differential predictions.
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    Reasons Against

    1 perspective
    Reason against
    ?
    • 1.Some explanatory frameworks (e.g., evolutionary theory) accommodate broad data classes yet possess genuine predictive power through mechanistic constraints.
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    • 2.Rationality requires comparing theories on multiple criteria beyond accommodation: explanatory depth, unification, and instrumental success matter independently.
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    • 3.The claim conflates logical accommodation with actual explanatory content; theories can fit data while providing substantive causal mechanisms and scope limitations.
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    Connections

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    Modality & Possibility1 linkedNatural Theology1 linked

    Related

    Bayesian confirmation requires theories to assign higher probability to observed...Empirical underdetermination is epistemically problematic only when theories are...Post-hoc explanatory flexibility increases degrees of freedom without predictive...Rationality requires comparing theories on multiple criteria beyond accommodatio...
    +3 moreShow less
    Some explanatory frameworks (e.g., evolutionary theory) accommodate broad data c...The assumption of a miracle can sometimes be the most rational explanation for a...The claim conflates logical accommodation with actual explanatory content; theor...

    Details

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    claim
    Perspectives
    2 (1 for, 1 against)
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    1 edit