Inferences to causal relevance from experiments

Gerd Graßhoff

pp. 167-182

in: Dennis Dieks, Stephan Hartmann, Thomas Uebel, Marcel Weber, Wenceslao J. Gonzalez (eds), Explanation, prediction, and confirmation, Berlin, Springer, 2011

Abstract

For many the juxtaposition of theory and experience is governed by the logical properties of a deductive relation. Often it is abbreviated "hypothetico-deductive model of the science" (HD-model). "Theory" is a broad framework of general statements about natural properties and processes. Although theories and conjunctions of scientific statements may lack causal terminology in scientific papers, causal hypotheses are practically always involved. For the following arguments the only relevant aspect is that theories imply propositions that can be compared with empirical data. Here the implication is meant strictly in the sense of a deduction. The HD-model has at first sight attractive advantages.