You can spot bad explanations similar to the way you can spot bad arguments using the Münchhausen trilemma.
For example:
- An argument such as “we are in a simulation” which requires proof of “who wrote the simulation” infinitely regresses making it a bad explanation
- An argument like “everything was designed by god in 7 days” is a bad explanation because it’s dogmatic and easy to vary. “Intelligent design” can be varied to match any prediction or evidence without further proof other than “because”