Forklaringskraft

Forklaringskraft, literally “explanatory power,” is a term used in philosophy of science and epistemology to describe how well a theory accounts for the phenomena it aims to explain. The word originates from Norwegian and Danish contexts and is commonly used to discuss the explanatory force of a theory in scientific and philosophical debates. A theory with high forklaringskraft provides a coherent, unified account of diverse observations and often offers deep explanations beyond mere data description.

Several features contribute to forklaringskraft. Breadth and depth refer to how many and how significant phenomena the theory explains, respectively. Unification, where a single framework accounts for previously separate areas, is highly valued. Predictive success, especially novel and falsifiable predictions, enhances explanatory power. Coherence with established theories and a relatively simple or elegant structure also strengthen forklaringskraft.

In practice, forklaringskraft is weighed alongside empirical adequacy and simplicity in theory choice. A theory with strong explanatory power is considered more robust if it also withstands empirical tests and remains parsimonious.

Examples often cited include Newtonian mechanics, whose universal laws explained a wide range of motions under a single framework, and Darwinian evolution, whose explanatory power spans biology and paleontology, supported by genetic theory.

Critiques warn that explanatory power alone does not guarantee truth and can reflect background assumptions or biases. It remains one criterion among several, including falsifiability, predictive accuracy, and empirical support, in evaluating scientific theories.