TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL ACCOUNT OF ASYMMETRY IN NON-CAUSAL EXPLANATIONS

• Authors: Zámečník Lukáš
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

In this paper, I provide a conceptual analysis of the issue of asymmetry in non-causal explanations. I aim to fulfil three sub-tasks: 1) To define a conceptual space for problem solving (Cf. Reutlinger and Saatsi 2018; Lange 2017); 2) To reflect ongoing debates (Cf. Jansson and Saatsi 2019; Lange 2019; Khalifa et al. 2018); 3) To reflect a model of topological explanation (Cf. Kostić 2020). I focus only on non-causal explanations in the context of scientific research. I formulate several counter-arguments against distinctively mathematical explanations. I reflect the ongoing debate on the question of the universal applicability of a counterfactual solution to the problem of asymmetry for both causal and non-causal explanations (Cf. Woodward 2018). I reveal that none of the approaches discussed is without problems and that the proposed solutions to them are unsatisfactory. I consider the model of topological explanation in Kostić's view to be the most cogent solution to the discussed problem. His model successfully incorporates a counterfactual approach and also offers a solution to the problem of explanation asymmetry in non-causal explanations from a pragmatic point of view.

Keywords

EN

ASYMMETRY; EXPLANATION; NON-CAUSAL; COUNTERFACTUAL; TOPOLOGICAL

• Publisher: Institute of Philosophy, Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Journal: Filozofia (Philosophy)
• Year: 2021
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 407 – 422

Contributors

author

Zámečník Lukáš

• Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, Filozofická fakulta, Křížkovského 14, 779 00 Olomouc, Czech Republic

Identifiers

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31577/filozofia.2021.76.6.2