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Minimal structure explanations, scientific understanding and explanatory depth

Kostic, Daniel (2018) Minimal structure explanations, scientific understanding and explanatory depth. [Preprint]

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Abstract

In this paper, I outline a heuristic for thinking about the relation between explanation and understanding that can be used to capture various levels of “intimacy”, between them. I argue that the level of complexity in the structure of explanation is inversely proportional to the level of intimacy between explanation and understanding, i.e. the more complexity the less intimacy. I further argue that the level of complexity in the structure of explanation also affects the explanatory depth in a similar way to intimacy between explanation and understanding, i.e. the less complexity the greater explanatory depth and vice versa.


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Item Type: Preprint
Creators:
CreatorsEmailORCID
Kostic, Danieldaniel.kostic@gmail.com0000-0001-5729-1476
Keywords: Minimal structure explanations, scientific understanding, explanatory depth, topological explanations.
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Depositing User: Dr. Daniel Kostic
Date Deposited: 02 May 2018 20:57
Last Modified: 02 May 2018 20:57
Item ID: 14641
Subjects: Specific Sciences > Complex Systems
Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science
General Issues > Explanation
General Issues > Philosophers of Science
Date: May 2018
URI: https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14641

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