PhilSci Archive

The Hodgkin-Huxley Model, Explanatory Force and Explanatory Aims

Singam, Kaamesh (2022) The Hodgkin-Huxley Model, Explanatory Force and Explanatory Aims. In: UNSPECIFIED.

WarningThere is a more recent version of this item available.
[img] Text
The Hodgkin-Huxley Model, Explanatory Force and Explanatory Aims.docx - Draft Version

Download (102kB)

Abstract

The Hodgkin-Huxley model is a hugely influential mathematical model in the field of neuroscience and electrophysiology. The precise nature of the model and its explanatory status have been discussed by Carl Craver and Arnon Levy in their publications ((Craver, 2006), (Craver, 2008), (Levy, 2013)). While Craver argues that the model is a mechanism sketch and hence is a deficient explanation, Levy argues that the model is an aggregative abstraction and hence is not explanatorily deficient. I compare their arguments and then explore the questions of what an adequate explanation is in neuroscience and what carries their explanatory force. Then I suggest that an answer could be found when we turn towards talk of explanatory aims.


Export/Citation: EndNote | BibTeX | Dublin Core | ASCII/Text Citation (Chicago) | HTML Citation | OpenURL
Social Networking:
Share |

Item Type: Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Singam, Kaameshkaameshsingam@gmail.com0000-0002-6371-9608
Additional Information: I am going to present this version of the paper in the conference titled "Ninth Biennial SPSP — Ghent 2022". I had sent this version to the journal "Studies in History and Philosophy of Science" and it was rejected with several reviewer comments. But the reviewers said that the paper could be improved. That is what I plan to do after my presentation in the aforesaid conference. I also plan to use the comments and suggestions I get in the conference.
Keywords: explanation, mechanism, models, abstraction
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Molecular Neuroscience
Depositing User: Mr. Kaamesh Singam
Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2022 14:47
Last Modified: 18 Jun 2022 14:47
Item ID: 20762
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Cognitive Neuroscience
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
General Issues > Models and Idealization
Specific Sciences > Neuroscience > Molecular Neuroscience
Date: 17 June 2022
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/20762

Available Versions of this Item

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item