Validity
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The extent to which an explanation leads to other predictions
(fruitfulness)
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In relevant situations, the extent to which the strength of the
cause is correlated with the strength of the effect
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The extent to which an explanation is sensitive to changes in
context; that is, the extent to which an explanation is not vacuous
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The extent to which an explanation is better than alternative
explanations
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The extent to which an explanation is monotonic, such that adding
knowledge does not invalidate it
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The extent to which explanation is easier to understand than the
system being explained
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The extent to which the explanation lies on foundations developed
prior to and independent of the phenomenon being explained