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Single Idea 20892
[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations
]
Full Idea
Democritus himself, as they say, stated that he would rather discover a single causal explanation [aitiologia] than become the King of the Persians.
Gist of Idea
Democritus was devoted to discovering causal explanations
Source
report of Democritus (fragments/reports [c.431 BCE], B118) by Eusebius - Preparation for the Gospel 14.27.4
Book Ref
Democritus: 'Early Greek Phil VII: Democritus', ed/tr. Laks,A/Most,G [Harvard Loeb 2016], p.43
A Reaction
Democritus seems to be clearly the father of the physical sciences, because he focused single-mindedly on physical and causal explanations. David Lewis says all explanations are causal.
The
33 ideas
with the same theme
[explanation as showing the causes of events]:
20892
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Democritus was devoted to discovering causal explanations
[Democritus, by Eusebius]
|
15859
|
To investigate the causes of things, study what is best for them
[Plato]
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22522
|
To grasp something, trace it back to its natural origins
[Aristotle]
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1669
|
The foundation or source is stronger than the thing it causes
[Aristotle]
|
13165
|
Geometrical proofs do not show causes, as when we prove a triangle contains two right angles
[Proclus]
|
17238
|
Science aims to show causes and generation of things
[Hobbes]
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17022
|
We should admit only enough causes to explain a phenomenon, and no more
[Newton]
|
17021
|
Natural effects of the same kind should be assumed to have the same causes
[Newton]
|
19398
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Minds are best explained by their ends, and bodies by efficient causes
[Leibniz]
|
16805
|
Causal inference is by spotting either Agreements or Differences
[Mill, by Lipton]
|
24213
|
Explanations always concern how one thing changes into another
[Weil]
|
17062
|
If scientific explanation is causal, that rules out mathematical explanation
[Smart]
|
13052
|
Hempel rejects causation as part of explanation
[Hempel, by Salmon]
|
13061
|
Flagpoles explain shadows, and not vice versa, because of temporal ordering
[Salmon]
|
4809
|
Lewis endorses the thesis that all explanation of singular events is causal explanation
[Lewis, by Psillos]
|
14321
|
To explain an event is to provide some information about its causal history
[Lewis]
|
9658
|
An explanation tells us how an event was caused
[Lewis]
|
16280
|
Often explanaton seeks fundamental laws, rather than causal histories
[Lewis]
|
17094
|
The causal theory of explanation neglects determinations which are not causal
[Ruben]
|
16813
|
To explain is to give either the causal history, or the causal mechanism
[Lipton]
|
16815
|
Mathematical and philosophical explanations are not causal
[Lipton]
|
16846
|
A cause may not be an explanation
[Lipton]
|
16848
|
Causal inferences are clearest when we can manipulate things
[Lipton]
|
16849
|
Explanations may be easier to find than causes
[Lipton]
|
8406
|
Not all explanations are causal, but if a thing can be explained at all, it can be explained causally
[Sanford]
|
4395
|
There are non-causal explanations, most typically mathematical explanations
[Psillos]
|
4806
|
An explanation can just be a 'causal story', without laws, as when I knock over some ink
[Psillos]
|
14367
|
An explanation is a causal graph
[Woodward,J, by Strevens]
|
13929
|
Natural explanations give the causal interconnections
[Haslanger]
|
20058
|
Not all explanation is causal. We don't explain a painting's beauty, or the irrationality of root-2, that way
[Stout,R]
|
15144
|
Explanation of causal phenomena concerns essential kinds - but also lack of them
[Chakravartty]
|
15117
|
Greek uses the same word for 'cause' and 'explanation'
[Koslicki]
|
17299
|
There are plenty of examples of non-causal explanation
[Audi,P]
|