'''Inference to the Best Explanation''' (IBE) is scientific device of logical reasoning residing on idea that entities, conditions, or processes that have the capability or so called ''causal powers'' to produce the evidence in question constitute better explanations of that evidence than those that are not.<ref name="Signature"/> The method of IBE does not attempt to answer the question ''Why this?'' but the question ''Why this rather than that?''<ref name="Lipton"/> | '''Inference to the Best Explanation''' (IBE) is scientific device of logical reasoning residing on idea that entities, conditions, or processes that have the capability or so called ''causal powers'' to produce the evidence in question constitute better explanations of that evidence than those that are not.<ref name="Signature"/> The method of IBE does not attempt to answer the question ''Why this?'' but the question ''Why this rather than that?''<ref name="Lipton"/> |