counterexample vs alternate explanation

vanessaogbeide

what’s the difference?

acsimon

"counter-example" is a concrete example of some phenomenon with features that refutes a particular claim or a consequence of a theory about that phenomenon. A alternate explanation is an alternative account that purports to explain why a particular phenomenon occurs. It is supposed to apply generally to all cases falling under said phenomenon.

Here is an example of a counterexample:

Claim 1: all people with red hair score below 170 on the LSAT.

Counterexample: Karen, who is red-headed, just scored a 174 on the LSAT in Sept.

First, assume that claim 1 is true.

Claim 2: all people with red hair score below 170 on the LSAT because they have two copies of a certain recessive-gene and this recessive gene correlates with lower intelligence. (The italics constitute the explanatory portion of the claim)

Alternative explanation: people with red hair constitute a small swath of the entire LSAT test taking population, and there are several sociological reasons why (a) many of the most intelligent among the entire red-headed population go into other fields (and therefore, never take the LSAT), and (b) why those that do have scored lower than 170. This is why all people with red hair score below 170 on the LSAT (alternative explanatory claim).

Hopefully this helps. With apologies to our red-headed brothers and sisters out there. I needed a stark example that wasn't politically loaded.

Cheers--A.c.S

AllezAllez21

@acsimon nails it.