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Backwards Explanation

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dc.contributor.authorJenkins, Carrie S
dc.contributor.authorNolan, Daniel
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-08T22:18:43Z
dc.date.available2015-12-08T22:18:43Z
dc.date.issued2008
dc.date.updated2015-12-08T08:18:37Z
dc.description.abstractWe discuss explanation of an earlier event by a later event, and argue that prima facie cases of backwards event explanation are ubiquitous. Some examples: (1) I am tidying my flat because my brother is coming to visit tomorrow. (2) The scarlet pimpernels are closing because it is about to rain. (3) The volcano is smoking because it is going to erupt soon. We then look at various ways people might attempt to explain away these prima facie cases by arguing that in each case the 'real' explanation is something else. We argue that none of the explaining-away strategies are successful, and so any plausible account of explanation should either make room for backwards explanation, or have a good story to tell about why it doesn't have to.
dc.identifier.issn0031-8116
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/31472
dc.publisherKluwer Academic Publishers
dc.sourcePhilosophical Studies
dc.subjectKeywords: Explanation; Functional explanation; Teleology
dc.titleBackwards Explanation
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue1
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage115
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage103
local.contributor.affiliationJenkins, Carrie S, University of Nottingham
local.contributor.affiliationNolan, Daniel, College of Arts and Social Sciences, ANU
local.contributor.authoruidNolan, Daniel, u3837818
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor220309 - Metaphysics
local.identifier.ariespublicationu4583819xPUB83
local.identifier.citationvolume140
local.identifier.doi10.1007/s11098-008-9228-y
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-45349086517
local.identifier.thomsonID000256757600006
local.type.statusPublished Version

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