Inference to the Best Explanation

Praise for the First Edition: '[Lipton's] book marks a real advance. It deserves to be read by all philosophers interested in the theory of knowledge and the philosophy of science.' - Mind

'The first edition of Peter Lipton's Inference to the Best Explanation, which appeared in 1991, is a modern classic in the philosophy of science. Yet in the second edition of the book, Lipton proves that even a classic can be improved . . . a 'must' read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of inductive inference, broadly understood.' - Notre Dame Philosophical Reviews

'Peter Lipton's excellent book approaches the descriptive task with imagination and style. Lipton argues persuasively that an understanding of the workings of contrastive explanation can yield insight into our inferential practices.' - Times Literary Supplement

'Lipton makes valuable contributions with respect to any number of important questions in epistemology and philosophy of science. Anyone with more than a passing interest in these fields will find his book indispensable.' - The Philosophical Review

'Interesting and challenging . . . those who relish clear and thorough philosophical discussion will find this book very rewarding. I did.' - Meta Science

'This excellent book . . [offers] significant clarity . . . in the quest to understand our non-demonstrative inferences.' -The British Journal for the Philosophy of Science