Explanation and Understanding

Science has multiple goals: to describe the world, as it is now; to predict the future and to make inferences about the past. Science also aims to understand the world - to explain why it is the way it is. But what does it take to explain a phenomenon? How does science generate understanding and what does that take?In this thorough and clearly written introduction to scientific explanation, Arnon Levy explores the following problems and questions: the background to the topic of scientific explanation, particularly the questions of what an explanation is, what makes a good explanation and why seek them in the first place empiricism about explanation: Hempel's deductive-nomological model and its problems unificationism about explanation: must good scientific explanations fit into an overall 'explanatory store'? causation and explanation: Lewis's description-based model, Woodward's interventionist view and Strevens's criterion of selection theory connections between explanation and understanding models, idealization and explanation non-causal explanation and explanation in non-scientific contexts the nature of understanding. Additional features, such as chapter summaries, suggestions for further reading and a glossary, make this an excellent resource for students of philosophy of science, metaphysics and epistemology.

Product details

• Authors: Arnon Levy, Arnon (Hebrew University of Jerusalem Levy
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 31.01.2025, delayed
• EAN: 9781138700444
• ISBN: 978-1-138-70044-4
• No. of pages: 216
• Series: New Problems of Philosophy
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Philosophy > General, dictionaries; Non-fiction book > Philosophy, religion > Philosophy: general, reference works; PHILOSOPHY / Epistemology, PHILOSOPHY / Metaphysics, SCIENCE / Philosophy & Social Aspects, Philosophy of Science, Philosophy: metaphysics & ontology, Philosophy: metaphysics and ontology, Philosophy: epistemology & theory of knowledge, Philosophy: epistemology and theory of knowledge