De Regt, Henk and Dieks, Dennis (2002) A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding. UNSPECIFIED. (Unpublished)

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Abstract

Achieving understanding of nature is a central aim of science. In this paper we offer an analysis of the nature of scientific understanding, which accords with actual scientific practice and accommodates the historical diversity of conceptions of understanding. Its core idea is a general criterion for the intelligibility of scientific theories, that is essentially contextual: which theories conform to this criterion depends on contextual factors, and can change in the course of time. As a preparation for our analysis we criticise standard views of scientific understanding, in particular causal-mechanical and unificationist conceptions.

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Item Type:	Other
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID De Regt, Henk Dieks, Dennis
Keywords:	Understanding, explanation, physics, contextuality, pragmatism
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Depositing User:	Dennis Dieks
Date Deposited:	29 Jan 2002
Last Modified:	07 Oct 2010 15:10
Item ID:	553
Public Domain:	No
Subjects:	General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation General Issues > History of Science Case Studies
Date:	January 2002
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/553

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• A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding. (deposited 29 Jan 2002) [Currently Displayed]
  • A Contextual Approach to Scientific Understanding. (deposited 22 Aug 2003)

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