Assignment task: Consider the following phenomenon, and then evaluate each theory given to explain it. Say of each whether it does or does not adequately display each of the explanatory virtues (Explanatoriness, Depth, Power, Falsifiability, Modesty, Simplicity, and Conservativeness). Determine which of these has the most explanatory virtues, which theories are plausible, and which are not.
John dreamed that his cousin would die in a plane crash. A few days later, his cousin did die in a plane crash.
1. The fact that John's dream happened to be about a plane crash involving his cousin was a coincidence.? We have many dreams, and some are likely to match real events from time to time.
2. In his dream, John was able to see into the future and "view" the plane crash.
3. The incident was an example of "synchronicity," in which events are paired in unusual but pre-determined ways by cosmic forces.
4. John's dream was a message from God or some cosmic power.