Vernazzani, Alfredo (2026) Animating Scientific Understanding. [Preprint]

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Abstract

The mainstream account of scientific understanding is explanationism. According to explanationism, scientific understanding is only achieved when a subject grasps a full or partial explanation of the target phenomenon. Objectualists disagree and argue that there are instances of scientific understanding that outstrip explanatory understanding. In this paper, I advance a novel form of objectualism that I call epistemic pluralism or PLURALISM for short. On this view, the satisfaction of any scientific epistemic concern, explanatory or not, constitutes a partial ground for understanding a
phenomenon scientifically. I put pressure on explanationism by arguing that, in contrast with PLURALISM, it faces a dilemma when it comes to account for the epistemic achievements of nonexplanatory scientific research.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Vernazzani, Alfredo
Keywords:	Scientific Understanding; Explanationism; Objectualism; Epistemology of Science
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Anthropology Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Psychology
Depositing User:	Dr. Alfredo Vernazzani
Date Deposited:	25 Mar 2026 12:31
Last Modified:	25 Mar 2026 12:31
Item ID:	28753
Official URL:	https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11098-0...
DOI or Unique Handle:	https://doi.org/10.1007/s11098-026-02508-y
Subjects:	Specific Sciences > Anthropology Specific Sciences > Biology Specific Sciences > Cognitive Science General Issues > Explanation General Issues > Models and Idealization Specific Sciences > Psychology
Date:	2026
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/28753

Available Versions of this Item

• Animating Scientific Understanding. (deposited 02 Mar 2026 13:34)
  • Animating Scientific Understanding. (deposited 25 Mar 2026 12:30)
    • Animating Scientific Understanding. (deposited 25 Mar 2026 12:31) [Currently Displayed]

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