Kostic, Daniel (2023) On the Role of Erotetic Constraints in Non-causal Explanations. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In non-causal explanations, some non-causal facts (such as mathematical, modal or metaphysical) are used to explain some physical facts. However, precisely because these explanations abstract away from causal facts, they face two challenges: 1) it is not clear why would one rather than the other non-causal explanantia be relevant for the explanandum; and 2) why would standing in a particular explanatory relation (e.g., “counterfactual dependence”, “constraint”, “entailment”, “constitution”, “grounding”, and so on), and not in some other, be explanatory. I develop an explanatory relevance account which is based on erotetic constraints and show how it addresses these two challenges.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Kostic, Daniel daniel.kostic@gmail.com 0000-0001-5729-1476
Additional Information:	Forthcoming in the Philosophy of Science.
Keywords:	Explanation, non-causal explanation, topological explanation, explanatory relevance, erotetic logic, ontic backing, perspectivism.
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Explanation General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Depositing User:	Dr. Daniel Kostic
Date Deposited:	04 Jul 2023 13:11
Last Modified:	04 Jul 2023 13:11
Item ID:	22280
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Mathematics > Explanation General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Date:	2023
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/22280

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