T'ai Chi
6th January 2004, 04:07 PM
In the recent issue of the SI (p. 16), Massimo Pigliucci has an interesting article on predictions and explanations.
"Good explanations do not necessarily imply the ability to make good predictions. Furthermore, the ability to predict doesn't mean that one has an explanation of the predicted phenomenon."
So I'm wondering... A while ago when I posted that the taiji diagram (the yin-yang) is a good explanation, why a poster tried to take me to task by essentially saying that it doesn't predict anything. Clearly, good explanations do not necessarily imply the ability to make good predictions.
"Good explanations do not necessarily imply the ability to make good predictions. Furthermore, the ability to predict doesn't mean that one has an explanation of the predicted phenomenon."
So I'm wondering... A while ago when I posted that the taiji diagram (the yin-yang) is a good explanation, why a poster tried to take me to task by essentially saying that it doesn't predict anything. Clearly, good explanations do not necessarily imply the ability to make good predictions.