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Single Idea 17271

[from 'Guide to Ground' by Kit Fine, in 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / a. Types of explanation ]

Full Idea

In addition to scientific or causal explanation, there maybe a distinctive kind of metaphysical explanation, in which explanans and explanandum are connected, not through some causal mechanism, but through some constitutive form of determination.

Gist of Idea

Is there metaphysical explanation (as well as causal), involving a constitutive form of determination?

Source

Kit Fine (Guide to Ground [2012], Intro)

Book Reference

'Metaphysical Grounding', ed/tr. Correia,F/Schnieder,B [CUP 2012], p.37


A Reaction

I'm unclear why determination has to be 'constitutive', since I would take determination to be a family of concepts, with constitution being one of them, as when chess pieces determine a chess set. Skip 'metaphysical'; just have Determinative Explanation.