Weber, Marcel (2006) Causes without Mechanisms: Experimental Regularities, Physical Laws, and Neuroscientific Explanation. In: UNSPECIFIED.

Microsoft Word (.doc) Weber_HH.doc Download (118kB)

Abstract

This paper examines the role of experimental generalizations and physical laws in neuroscientific explanations, using Hodgkin’s and Huxley’s electrophysiological model from 1952 as a test case. I show that the fact that the model was partly fitted to experimental data did not affect its explanatory status, nor did the false mechanistic assumptions made by Hodgkin and Huxley. The model satisfies two important criteria of explanatory status: It contains invariant generalizations and it is modular (both in James Woodward's sense). Thus, mechanisms in the narrow sense recently discussed in the philosophy of biology and neuroscience are not necessary for causal explanations. Further, I argue that the explanatory heteronomy thesis holds true for this case.

---

Export/Citation:

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

Social Networking:

Share |

---

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Weber, Marcel
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Causation
Depositing User:	Justin Sytsma
Date Deposited:	09 Apr 2007
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:15
Item ID:	3287
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Neuroscience Specific Sciences > Biology General Issues > Causation
Date:	2006
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/3287

Monthly Views for the past 3 years

Monthly Downloads for the past 3 years

Plum Analytics

Actions (login required)

View Item