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Single Idea 6761

[filed under theme 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / b. Contrastive explanations ]

Full Idea

A 'contrastive explanation' explains why one thing happened but not another.

Gist of Idea

Contrastive explanations say why one thing happened but not another

Source

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

Book Ref

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.78

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A Reaction

If I explain why the ship sank, is this contrastive, or just causal, or both? Am I explaining why it sank rather than turned into a giraffe? An interesting concept, but I can't see myself making use of it.

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The 4 ideas with the same theme [using contrasting foil to home in on explanation]:

16816

In 'contrastive' explanation there is a fact and a foil - why that fact, rather than this foil? [Lipton]

16826

With too many causes, find a suitable 'foil' for contrast, and the field narrows right down [Lipton]

6761	Contrastive explanations say why one thing happened but not another [Bird]

17308

Explaining 'Adam ate the apple' depends on emphasis, and thus implies a contrast [Schaffer,J]