Lorenzano, Pablo and Díez, José (2022) Scientific Explanation as Ampliative, Specialized Embedding: The Case of Classical Genetics. [Preprint]
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Lorenzano & Díez-Scientific Explanation as Amplaitive, Specialized Embedding-The Case of Classical Genetics-preprint.pdf Download (347kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Explanations in genetics have intriguing aspects to both biologists and philosophers, and there is no account that satisfactorily elucidates such explanations. The aim of this article is to analyze the kind of explanations usually given in Classical (Transmission) Genetics (CG) and to present in detail the application of an account of explanation as ampliative, specialized nomological embedding to elucidate such explanations. First, we present explanations in CG in the classical format of inferences with the explanans as the premises and the explanandum as the conclusion and compare them with explanations in other paradigmatic explanatory fields such as Classical Mechanics. Second, we summarize the main aspects discussed in the literature with regard to the peculiarities of genetic explanations. Third, we introduce the account of scientific explanation as ampliative, specialized nomological embedding making use of Sneedian structuralism, in particular the notions of theory-net, fundamental law or guiding principle, specialization, and special laws. Finally, we apply this account to the case of CG and show that this analysis sheds light on the intriguing aspects of genetic explanations and removes most of their alleged oddities.
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| Item Type: | Preprint | |||||||||
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| Additional Information: | To appear in Synthese. | |||||||||
| Keywords: | Classical Genetics, laws, explanation, structuralism, models, embedding | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Structure of Theories |
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| Depositing User: | Dr. Pablo Lorenzano | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 20 Nov 2022 21:53 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 20 Nov 2022 21:53 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 21454 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Laws of Nature General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Structure of Theories |
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| Date: | 2022 | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/21454 |
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