van Eck, Dingmar and Gervais, Raoul (2016) Difference making, explanatory relevance, and mechanistic models. THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science, 31 (1). pp. 125-134. ISSN 2171-679X
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Abstract
In this paper we consider mechanistic explanations for biologic malfunctions. Drawing on Lipton’s (1993) work on difference making, we offer three reasons why one should distinguish i) mechanistic features that only make a difference to the malfunction one aims to explain, from ii) features that make a difference to both the malfunction and normal functioning. Recognition of the distinction is important for a) repair purposes, b) mechanism discovery, and c) understanding. This analysis extends current mechanistic thinking, which fails to appreciate the distinction. We illustrate our contribution with a case on sleeping disorders as arising from disruptions of circadian rhythms.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | |||||||||
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| Additional Information: | ISSN: 0495-4548 (print) | |||||||||
| Keywords: | mechanistic explanation; difference making; explanatory relevance; malfunction explanation | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Explanation |
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| Depositing User: | Unnamed user with email theoria@ehu.es | |||||||||
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2016 19:47 | |||||||||
| Last Modified: | 08 Jun 2016 19:47 | |||||||||
| Item ID: | 12176 | |||||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | THEORIA. An International Journal for Theory, History and Foundations of Science | |||||||||
| Publisher: | Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea / Universidad del País Vasco | |||||||||
| Official URL: | http://www.ehu.eus/ojs/index.php/THEORIA/article/v... | |||||||||
| DOI or Unique Handle: | 10.1387/theoria.13282 | |||||||||
| Subjects: | Specific Sciences > Biology > Function/Teleology General Issues > Explanation |
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| Date: | January 2016 | |||||||||
| Page Range: | pp. 125-134 | |||||||||
| Volume: | 31 | |||||||||
| Number: | 1 | |||||||||
| ISSN: | 2171-679X | |||||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/12176 |
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