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SUMMARY:Representing and explaining: the eikonic conception of explanation
  - Alisa Bokulich (Boston University)
DTSTART:20171129T130000Z
DTEND:20171129T143000Z
UID:TALK85501@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:31287
DESCRIPTION:The widely-accepted ontic conception of explanation\, accordin
 g to which \nexplanations are "full-bodied things in the world\," is funda
 mentally \nmisguided.  I argue instead for what I call the eikonic concept
 ion of \nscientific explanation\, according to which explanations are an e
 pistemic \nactivity involving representations of the phenomena to be expla
 ined.  \nWhat is explained\, in the first instance\, is not the phenomenon
  in the \nworld itself\, but a particular representation of that phenomeno
 n\, which \nis contextualized within a particular research program and exp
 lanatory \nproject.  I conclude that this eikonic conception of explanatio
 n has the \nfollowing five virtues:  first\, it is able to better make sen
 se of \nscientific practice\; second\, it allows us to talk normatively ab
 out \nexplanations\; third\, it makes sense of explanatory pluralism\; fou
 rth\, it \nhelps us better understand the role of mathematics\, models\, a
 nd fictions \nin scientific explanation\; and fifth\, it makes room for th
 e full range \nof constraints (e.g.\, ontic\, epistemic\, and communicativ
 e) on scientific \nexplanation.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, Department of History and Philosophy of Science
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