Towards an Aristotelean Theory of Scientific Explanation
- 14 March 1972
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Philosophy of Science
- Vol. 39 (1) , 20-31
- https://doi.org/10.1086/288406
Abstract
In this paper, I consider a variety of objections against the covering-law model of scientific explanation, show that Aristotle was already aware of them and had solutions for them, and argue that these solutions are correct. These solutions involve the notions of nonHumean causality and of essential properties. There are a great many familiar objections, both methodological and epistemological, to introducing these concepts into the methodology of science, but I show that these objections are based upon misunderstandings of these concepts.Keywords
This publication has 5 references indexed in Scilit:
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- On the Logical Conditions of Deductive ExplanationPhilosophy of Science, 1963
- Explanation RevisitedPhilosophy of Science, 1961
- Hempel and Oppenheim on ExplanationPhilosophy of Science, 1961