Why Unification Is Neither Necessary Nor Sufficient for Explanation

@article{citeulike:2801054, abstract = {In this paper, I argue that unification is neither necessary nor sufficient for explanation. Focusing on the versions of the unificationist theory of explanation of Kitcher and of Schurz and Lambert, I establish three theses. First, Kitcher’s criterion of unification is vitiated by the fact that it entails that every proposition can be explained by itself, a flaw that it is unable to overcome. Second, because neither Kitcher’s theory nor that of Schurz and Lambert can solve the problems of asymmetry and accidental generalizations, it follows that unification is not sufficient to ground explanation. Third, some good explanations are disunifying, which entails that unification is not necessary for explanation either.}, author = {Gijsbers, Victor }, citeulike-article-id = {2801054}, journal = {Philosophy of Science}, keywords = {explanation, philosophy, philsci}, month = {October}, pages = {481--500}, posted-at = {2008-05-15 09:53:30}, priority = {1}, title = {Why Unification Is Neither Necessary Nor Sufficient for Explanation}, url = {http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/524420}, volume = {74}, year = {2007} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:2801054 L3 - citeulike-article-id:2801054 TI - Why Unification Is Neither Necessary Nor Sufficient for Explanation JF - Philosophy of Science VL - 74 SP - 481 EP - 500 N2 - In this paper, I argue that unification is neither necessary nor sufficient for explanation. Focusing on the versions of the unificationist theory of explanation of Kitcher and of Schurz and Lambert, I establish three theses. First, Kitcher’s criterion of unification is vitiated by the fact that it entails that every proposition can be explained by itself, a flaw that it is unable to overcome. Second, because neither Kitcher’s theory nor that of Schurz and Lambert can solve the problems of asymmetry and accidental generalizations, it follows that unification is not sufficient to ground explanation. Third, some good explanations are disunifying, which entails that unification is not necessary for explanation either. KW - explanation KW - philosophy KW - philsci AU - Gijsbers, Victor PY - 2007/10// UR - http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/524420 ER -