Some physical relations permit deduction in both directions while supporting different explanatory roles. Pole height and solar angle can explain a shadow length even though the height can also be inferred from that length. An evidential inference need not have the same direction as the causal explanation.
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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