Abstract

Stegmüller introduced in his discussion of “nomological explanation” and “statistical inference” what he calls the “Leibniz-Bedingung”: “cur aliquid potius sit quam non sit”. From a historical point of view however it has to be noticed that Leibniz applied this formula only to the question about real causes to which corresponds nomological explanation (or metaphysical reasoning). For the question about epistemic reasons he uses a clearly distinct formula: “Nam etiam probabilitates calculo ac demonstration! subjiciuntur, cum aestimari semper possit, quodnam ex datis circumstantiis probabilius sit futurum.”