Curren, Randall R. (1987) Explanations reconsidered. Humanities Working Paper, 120. California Institute of Technology , Pasadena, CA. https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20111026-140811037
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Abstract
Edna Ullmann-Margalit .introduced the notion of an invisiblehand explanation (I-H explanation) to the philosophical literature in 1978, and made a distinction between "aggregate" and "functional-evolutionary" (F-E) forms of I -H explanations. The present paper produces a substantially refined analysis of the forms and functions of I-H explanations. Sections (1) and (2) introduce the ideas of I-H and aggregate I-H explanation, respectively. Section (J) argues that no one form of explanation can serve the explanatory fUnctions Ullmann-Margalit attributes to aggregate explanations, and divides those explanatory functions between genetic and "systematic-dispositional" explanations. Section (4) identifies difficulties with the idea of F-E explanation in the social realm, and shows that any I-H explanations fitting the P-E mold would constitute simply a special class of "aggregate" explanation.
Item Type: | Report or Paper (Working Paper) |
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Additional Information: | I owe thanks to Edna Ullmann-Margalit, Merrilee Salmon. Sandra Mitchell, and especially Carl G. Hempel and Joseph Camp. for their encouragement and useful comments on earlier drafts of this paper. |
Group: | Humanities Working Papers |
Series Name: | Humanities Working Paper |
Issue or Number: | 120 |
Record Number: | CaltechAUTHORS:20111026-140811037 |
Persistent URL: | https://resolver.caltech.edu/CaltechAUTHORS:20111026-140811037 |
Official Citation: | Curren, Randall R. Explanations reconsidered. Pasadena, CA: California Institute of Technology, 1987. Humanities Working Paper, No. 120. |
Usage Policy: | No commercial reproduction, distribution, display or performance rights in this work are provided. |
ID Code: | 27460 |
Collection: | CaltechAUTHORS |
Deposited By: | Lindsay Cleary |
Deposited On: | 26 Oct 2011 23:24 |
Last Modified: | 03 Oct 2019 03:23 |
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