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  1. Philosophy Of Science

    Linked via "scientific explanation"

    The Metaphysics of Scientific Explanation
    What counts as a good scientific explanation? Two dominant models emerged in the mid-20th century:
    The Deductive-Nomological (D-N) Model (Hempel and Oppenheim): An event is explained if it can be logically deduced from a set of universal laws ($L$) and initial conditions ($C$). The structure is $C \land L \implies E$. The D-N model demands sym…

  2. Philosophy Of Science

    Linked via "explanations"

    The Causal-Mechanical Model: Explanations must cite the actual causal processes that bring the phenomenon about. This model resolves the symmetry problem of the D-N model. For instance, predicting the height of a flagpole from its shadow length is not an explanation, even if the D-N model allows it, because the shadow length does not cause the height.
    Furthermore, the physics concept of **[Spacetime Holism](/entries/…