Scientific Explanation and the Causal Structure of the World - Softcover

Salmon, Wesley C.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0691101701 ISBN 13: 9780691101705

Verlag: Princeton University Press, 1984

Inhaltsangabe

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.

Über diesen Titel

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

Wesley C. Salmon

Details zur Ausgabe

• Verlag: Princeton University Press
• Erscheinungsdatum: 1984
• Sprache: Englisch
• ISBN 10: 0691101701
• ISBN 13: 9780691101705
• Einband: Taschenbuch
• Anzahl der Seiten: 322
• Kontakt zum Hersteller: Nicht verfügbar
• Verantwortliche Person: gpsr@libri.de; gpsr@libri.de; ; Europaallee 1; Bad Hersfeld; 36244; Deutschland