Tomoji Shogenji: Surprise, Inaccuracy and Explanation

Lecture by Tomoji Shogenji (Rhode Island), organized by Grolog

This paper proposes a measure of explanatory demand formulated in terms of inaccuracy. The concept of explanation plays a significant role in epistemology and philosophy of science, but it is also known for controversies. In this paper I take a step back and investigate the notion of explanatory demand by way of surprise. The concept of surprise itself resists an easy analysis, but we have a better grip on it because surprise is part of our everyday life. The paper identifies unexpected inaccuracy as the reason for surprise, and...(continue reading...)