Wayne, Andrew (2010) Expanding the Scope of Explanatory Idealization. In: UNSPECIFIED.

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Abstract

Many explanations in physics rely on idealized models of physical systems. These explanations fail to satisfy the conditions of standard normative accounts of explanation. Recently, some philosophers have claimed that idealizations can be used to underwrite explanation nonetheless, but only when they are what have variously been called representational, Galilean, controllable or harmless idealizations. This paper argues that such a half-measure is untenable and that idealizations not of this sort can have explanatory capacities.

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Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (UNSPECIFIED)
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Wayne, Andrew
Keywords:	Explanation; idealization; model; physics; nonlinear oscillator
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Physics
Depositing User:	Andrew Wayne
Date Deposited:	01 Feb 2010
Last Modified:	24 Jun 2011 11:31
Item ID:	5145
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation Specific Sciences > Physics
Date:	February 2010
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/5145

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• Expanding the Scope of Explanatory Idealization. (deposited 01 Feb 2010) [Currently Displayed]
  • Expanding the Scope of Explanatory Idealization. (deposited 24 Jun 2011 11:31)

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