Wilhelm, Isaac (2024) Explanatory Circles. Studies in History and Philosophy of Science.
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Abstract
Roughly put, explanatory circles---if any exist---would be propositions such that (i) each explains the next, and (ii) the last explains the first. In this paper, I give two arguments for the view that there are explanatory circles. The first argument appeals to general relativistic worlds in which time is circular. The second argument appeals to special science theories that describe feedback loops. In addition, I show that three standard arguments against explanatory circles are unsuccessful.
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| Item Type: | Published Article or Volume | ||||||
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| Keywords: | explanation, circularity, structural equation models | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation |
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| Depositing User: | Isaac Wilhelm | ||||||
| Date Deposited: | 15 Dec 2025 20:25 | ||||||
| Last Modified: | 15 Dec 2025 20:25 | ||||||
| Item ID: | 27493 | ||||||
| Journal or Publication Title: | Studies in History and Philosophy of Science | ||||||
| Subjects: | General Issues > Causation General Issues > Explanation |
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| Date: | 2024 | ||||||
| URI: | https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/27493 |
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