Kasirzadeh, Atoosa (2021) Counter Countermathematical Explanations. [Preprint]

Preview

Text Counter_countermathematical_explanations_publication_Erkenntnis-2.pdf Download (183kB) | Preview

Abstract

Recently, there have been several attempts to generalize the counterfactual theory of causal explanations to mathematical explanations. The central idea of these attempts is to use conditionals whose antecedents express a mathematical impossibility. Such countermathematical conditionals are plugged into the explanatory scheme of the counterfactual theory and -- so is the hope -- capture mathematical explanations. Here, I dash the hope that countermathematical explanations simply parallel counterfactual explanations. In particular, I show that explanations based on countermathematicals are susceptible to three problems counterfactual explanations do not face. These problems seriously challenge the prospects for a counterfactual theory of explanation that is meant to cover mathematical explanations.

---

Export/Citation:

EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Kasirzadeh, Atoosa atoosa.kasirzadeh@mail.utoronto.ca
Additional Information:	This paper is accepted for publication at Erkenntnis.
Keywords:	Mathematical explanation Counterfactual explanation Countermathematical explanation
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Depositing User:	Dr. Atoosa Kasirzadeh
Date Deposited:	07 Sep 2021 18:10
Last Modified:	07 Sep 2021 18:10
Item ID:	19537
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Mathematics
Date:	2021
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/19537

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item