Explanation and Understanding / Edition 1

by von Wright Georg Henrik

Overview

This volume distinguishes between two main traditions in the philosophy of science - the aristotelian, with its stress on explanation in terms of purpose and intentionality, and the galilean, which takes causal explanation as primary. It then traces the complex history of these competing traditions as they are manifested in such movements as positivism, idealism, Marxism and contemporary linguistic analysis. Hempels's theory of scientific explanation, the claims of cybernetics the rise of an analytic philosophy of action and the revival of hermenuetics are all discussed. The volume also deals with causal explanation, intentionality and teleological explanation, and explanation in history and the social sciences. The author concludes that explanation of human actions cannot be reduced to simple causality, and discusses the implications of this conclusion for the disciplines of history and sociology.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415470216
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/18/2008
Series:	Routledge Library Editions: History & Philosophy of Science
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	252
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Multivolume collection by leading authors in the field

Table of Contents

Preface

I: Two Traditions

II: Causality and Causal Explanation

III: Intentionality and Teleological Explanation

IV: Explanation in History and the Social Sciences