The philosophical theory of scientific explanation proposed here involves a radically new treatment of causality that accords with the pervasively statistical character of contemporary science. Wesley C. Salmon describes three fundamental conceptions of scientific explanation--the epistemic, modal, and ontic. He argues that the prevailing view (a version of the epistemic conception) is untenable and that the modal conception is scientifically out-dated. Significantly revising aspects of his earlier work, he defends a causal/mechanical theory that is a version of the ontic conception. Professor Salmon's theory furnishes a robust argument for scientific realism akin to the argument that convinced twentieth-century physical scientists of the existence of atoms and molecules. To do justice to such notions as irreducibly statistical laws and statistical explanation, he offers a novel account of physical randomness. The transition from the "reviewed view" of scientific explanation (that explanations are arguments) to the causal/mechanical model requires fundamental rethinking of basic explanatory concepts.
| Autorius: | Wesley C. Salmon |
| Leidėjas: | Princeton University Press |
| Išleidimo metai: | 1984 |
| Knygos puslapių skaičius: | 322 |
| ISBN-10: | 0691101701 |
| ISBN-13: | 9780691101705 |
| Formatas: | Knyga minkštu viršeliu |
| Kalba: | Anglų |
| Žanras: | Philosophy of science |
Parašykite atsiliepimą apie „Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World“
