not simply when they would offer us some kind of explanation,

不仅在于它们为我们提供了某种解释
but when they offer us

还在于它们能使我们
the best explanation that we can think of.

想出的最佳解释
So look, why am I justified in believing in germs,

所以我为什么相信微生物
various kinds of viruses that I can't see,

相信各种肉眼无法看到的病毒
or bacteria or what have you, that I can't see?

细菌等诸如此类我看不到的东西确实存在
Because doing that allows me to explain why people get sick.

因为那样做我就可以解释人为什么会生病
But there's other things

不过还有一些其他的东西
that would allow me to explain that as well.

也可以帮助我解释这些现象
How about demons?

比如魔鬼
I could believe in demons and say,

我可以相信存在魔鬼然后说
"Why does a person get sick and die?

人为什么会生病和死亡