The Method of Hypothesis in the Phaedo

Abstract

The method of hypothesis in the Phaedo consists of setting up a hypothesis and regarding as true whatever seems to accord with it, and as false whatever does not. It has been disputed what relation the “accord” expresses. In my opinion, it is not the deducibility (Robinson), and it is not the relation between a theory-hypothesis and its applications (Gallop, Rowe), either. So I propose a new interpretation in this paper : it is the relation between the premises and the conclusion of a rational inference. A inference is called rational when its premises give good reasons for believing the conclusion.