Single Idea 6750

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation]

Full Idea

Explanations can be classified as causal, nomic, psychological, psychoanalytic, Darwinian and functional.

Clarification

'Nomic' explanations involve the laws of nature

Gist of Idea

Explanations are causal, nomic, psychological, psychoanalytic, Darwinian or functional

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.62


A Reaction

These could be subdivided, perhaps according to different types of cause. Personally, being a reductionist (like David Lewis, see Idea 3989), I suspect that all of these explanations could be reduced to causation. Essences explain causes.

Related Idea

Idea 3989 I am a reductionist about mind because I am an a priori reductionist about everything [Lewis]