Two Formalist Approaches to "Explanation" in Natural Sciences

Document Type : Research Paper

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Abstract

 
There are several problems in matters concerning scientific explanation, the most important of which is offering a definition of explanation and classifying the different approaches taken in offering a model for scientific explanation. In this paper, we will go through the current approaches to explanation while presenting a definition of it. In their discussions about explanation, philosophers of science do not pay very much attention to the general classification in the current views about explanation, but as we will see, examining these views and their divisions will greatly help in understanding these discussions. Therefore, we divide the current views about explanation into two general classes: formalistic and non-formalistic. Our discussion in this paper is specific to two formalist methods of explanation.

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References

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