An approach to scientific explanation that subsumes a phenomenon under general laws and specified circumstances. Its deductive form is the deductive-nomological model; statistical forms permit probabilistic support rather than entailment.
A form of scientific explanation using statistical laws and high conditional probability, relative to appropriate available information. A low-probability event can nevertheless have a mechanistic explanation, so high probability is not an uncontested necessary condition for explanation.
An explanation derives an event description from laws and circumstances, with valid deduction, essential use of a law, empirical content and true premises. These requirements do not by themselves settle explanatory direction or eliminate irrelevant additions.[ref]
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