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Some Varieties of Non-Causal Explanation

Woodward, James (2018) Some Varieties of Non-Causal Explanation. Explanation Beyond Causation. pp. 117-140.

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Abstract

This chapter explores the possibility of weakening the criteria for causal explanation in Making Things Happen (MTH) to yield various forms of non-causal explanation. These include the following: (1) retaining the idea that explanations must answer what if things had been different questions (the w-question requirement) but dropping the requirement the answers to such questions must take the form of claims about what would happen under interventions. (2) Retaining the w- question requirement but allowing generalizations that hold for mathematical or conceptual reasons to figure in explanations. (3) Dropping the w-question requirement to accommodate the role of information about irrelevance in explanation.


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Item Type: Published Article or Volume
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Woodward, Jamesjfw@pitt.edu
Keywords: Explanation, Causation, Explanatory Irrelevance
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User: Jim Woodward
Date Deposited: 25 Dec 2018 21:41
Last Modified: 25 Dec 2018 21:41
Item ID: 15497
Journal or Publication Title: Explanation Beyond Causation
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Subjects: General Issues > Causation
General Issues > Explanation
Date: 2018
Page Range: pp. 117-140
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/15497

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