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I also pulled up when reading that quote (and "explanation" is the name Strevens chose). But the next sentences show precisely what he means by "explanation" -
by mturmon 6y ago
I also pulled up when reading that quote (and "explanation" is the name Strevens chose). But the next sentences show precisely what he means by "explanation" --
>> ...scientists [] resolve their differences of opinion by conducting empirical tests rather than by shouting or fighting or philosophizing or moralizing or marrying or calling on a higher power....
His usage of "empirical tests" lines up with what you (and others) call "prediction".
Summary: I don't think you're in disagreement with the book.
As a comparative, this review [1] notes "Strevens argues that modern science owes its success to the relinquishing of deep philosophical understanding in favor of the shallow power to predict empirical observations. [...]"
[1] https://blogs.sciencemag.org/books/2020/12/28/the-knowledge-machine/ https://blogs.sciencemag.org/books/2020/12/28/the-knowledge-...
- Animats 6y agoI also pulled up when reading that quote (and "explanation" is the name Strevens chose). But the next sentences show precisely what he means by "explanation". When that situation arises, it's the fault of the writer. The classic remark on this is by Lewis Carroll: “When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’. ’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’. ’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”.