plausibles

Plausible is an adjective meaning seemingly reasonable or probable given the available information. The plural form plausibles is typically used as a noun phrase referring to multiple explanations, hypotheses, or proposals that meet a threshold of plausibility. In this usage, a plausible explanation is one that coheres with known facts and does not require highly unlikely assumptions; plausibles are not guaranteed to be true.

Assessment of plausibility is central to reasoning under uncertainty. Evaluators compare plausibles along criteria such as coherence with evidence, explanatory power, simplicity, consistency with established laws, and testability. In some frameworks, plausibility is weighed by prior information and likelihood, as in Bayesian reasoning; in others, it is judged by abductive criteria, or the capacity of a hypothesis to explain the observations best among competing options.

Fields such as science, history, law, and journalism regularly invoke plausibles to organize competing explanations before conclusive data are available. For example, in a forensic investigation, several plausibles might explain a given set of observations; subsequent tests may elevate some explanations while discarding others.

Because plausibility depends on context and prior assumptions, what is plausible to one observer may be less plausible to another. Cognitive biases, selective interpretation of evidence, and information gaps can influence plausibles. Consequently, rigorous methodology emphasizes explicit criteria, falsifiability, and ongoing testing.

Origin: plausible derives from Latin plausibilis, meaning worthy of applause or approval, through Old French and Middle English. See also plausibility, hypothesis, and abductive reasoning.