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14367 | An explanation is a causal graph |
Full Idea: On Woodward's manipulationist view, an explanation would take the form of a causal graph. | |||
From: report of James Woodward (Making Things Happen [2003]) by Michael Strevens - No Understanding without Explanation 1 | |||
A reaction: The idea is that causation is all to do with how nature responds when you try to manipulate it. I'm certainly in favour of tying explanation closely to causation. |