Discussion Topic #2 : Explanation

I would suggest that most (if not all) of our knowledge is theoretical. That is, there is very little that we take ourselves to know, which is wholly based on simple “direct observation.”

What I would like each of you to do is to explicitly articulate a theory that you have come to accept as a result of your studies (college, high school, independent reading, whatever). This can be a theory in the sciences or the humanities. It does not matter. It need only be an account that you have come to accept for its seeming ability to provide the “best explanation” for a phenomenon that you take to be observable or well-confirmed.

I then want you to evaluate this theory using the criteria of theory choice in lecture #3 (and the Schick and Vaughn material it concerns). Your answer should be several well-chosen paragraphs long.

To repeat, do the following:

(1) Clearly articulate a theory you have come to accept as a result of your studies.

(2) Evaluate this theory using the criteria of theory choice discussed in lecture #3.