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Single Idea 17062

[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations ]

Full Idea

I class mathematical explanation with scientific explanation. This would be resisted by those who, unlike me, regard the notion of causation as essential to scientific explanation.

Gist of Idea

If scientific explanation is causal, that rules out mathematical explanation

Source

J.J.C. Smart (Explanation - Opening Address [1990], p.02-3)

Book Ref

'Explanation and Its Limits', ed/tr. Knowles,Dudley [CUP 1990], p.2

A Reaction

I aim to champion mathematical explanation, in terms of axioms etc., so I am realising that my instinctive attraction to exclusively causal explanation won't do. What explanation needs is a direction of dependence.

The 18 ideas from J.J.C. Smart

17061 Explanation of a fact is fitting it into a system of beliefs [Smart]
17062 If scientific explanation is causal, that rules out mathematical explanation [Smart]
17063 Unlike Newton, Einstein's general theory explains the perihelion of Mercury [Smart]
17070 Coherence is consilience, simplicity, analogy, and fitting into a web of belief [Smart]
17072 We need comprehensiveness, as well as self-coherence [Smart]
17071 An explanation is better if it also explains phenomena from a different field [Smart]
17073 I simply reject evidence, if it is totally contrary to my web of belief [Smart]
17074 Explanations are bad by fitting badly with a web of beliefs, or fitting well into a bad web [Smart]
17075 Scientific explanation tends to reduce things to the unfamiliar (not the familiar) [Smart]
17076 Deducing from laws is one possible way to achieve a coherent explanation [Smart]
17077 The height of a flagpole could be fixed by its angle of shadow, but that would be very unusual [Smart]
17078 Universe expansion explains the red shift, but not vice versa [Smart]
22405 Negative utilitarianism implies that the world should be destroyed, to avoid future misery [Smart]
22404 Any group interested in ethics must surely have a sentiment of generalised benevolence [Smart]
14611 Metaphysics should avoid talk of past, present or future [Smart]
14614 The past, present, future and tenses of A-theory are too weird, and should be analysed indexically [Smart]
14613 Special relativity won't determine a preferred frame, but we can pick one externally [Smart]
14615 If time flows, then 'how fast does it flow?' is a tricky question [Smart]