Modes of Explanation

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

   PDF

2. Context

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

      PDF

   2. Introduction: Thoughts on Explanation

      • Michael Lissack, Abraham Graber

      Pages 3-16

   3. A Place in History

      • Alicia Juarrero

      Pages 17-23

   4. The Context of Our Query

      • Michael Lissack

      Pages 25-55

3. Case Study

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 57-57

      PDF

   2. Case Study: Creationism

      • Zack Kopplin

      Pages 59-71

4. Examining the Case

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 73-73

      PDF

   2. Scientific Realism on Historical Science and Creationism

      • Abraham Graber

      Pages 75-92

   3. A Pragmatic Constructivist Take on the Case

      • Michael Lissack

      Pages 93-105

5. Dialogue

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 107-107

      PDF

   2. Robustness and Explanation

      • William Wimsatt

      Pages 109-113

   3. A Mode of “Epi-Thinking” Leads to the Exploration of Vagueness and Finality

      • S. N. Salthe

      Pages 115-119

   4. Complexity, Ockham’s Razor, and Truth

      • Kevin T. Kelly, Konstantin Genin

      Pages 121-131

   5. Getting a Grip

      • Nancy J. Nersessian

      Pages 133-141

   6. Modes of Explanation: Complex Phenomena

      • Sandra Mitchell

      Pages 143-150

   7. Narrative as a Mode of Explanation: Evolution and Emergence

      • Rukmini Bhaya Nair

      Pages 151-159

   8. Economic Explanations

      • Paul Thagard

      Pages 161-170

   9. Narratives and Models in Complex Systems

      • Timothy F. H. Allen, Edmond Ramly, Samantha Paulsen, Gregori Kanatzidis, Nathan Miller

      Pages 171-196

   10. Evaluating Explanations through Their Conceptual Structures

       • Steven Wallis

       Pages 197-202

Modes of Explanation is the first book in decades to attempt to bring these conflicting approaches together and to offer a compelling narrative to explore how the paradox of 'explanation' can converge.

• Explanation
• Understanding
• Coherence
• Context
• Hermeneutics
• Scientific Realism
• Constructivism
• Creationism
• Evolution
• Thinking
• Narrative
• Interpretation
• complex systems
• complexity
• truth

Peter Achinstein, Johns Hopkins University, USA Timothy Allen, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA Jan Faye, University of Copenhagen, Denmark Alicia Juarrero, Prince George's Community College, USA Kevin Kelly, Carnegie Mellon University, USA Zachary Kopplin, Rice University, USA Lee McIntyre, Boston University, USA Sandra Mitchell, University of Pittsburgh, USA Rukmini Bhaya Nair, Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, India Nancy Nersessian, Georgia Institute of Technology, USA Stanley Salthe, City University of New York, USA Beckett Sterner, University of Michigan, USA Paul Thagard, University of Waterloo, Canada Steven Wallis, Capella University, USA Jonathan Waskan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA William Wimsatt, University of Chicago, USA Konstantin Genin, Carnegie Mellon University, USA Ian Harmon, Rice University, USA Andrew Higgins, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Gregori Kanatzidis, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA Nathan Miller, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA Samantha Paulsen, Rice University, USA Joseph Spino, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA Edmond Ramly, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

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