Counterfactual Scheming

Samuel Baron

doi:10.1093/mind/fzz008

Counterfactual Scheming

Samuel Baron

School of Humanities

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

15 Citations (Scopus)

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Abstract

Mathematics appears to play a genuine explanatory role in science. But how do mathematical explanations work? Recently, a counterfactual approach to mathematical explanation has been suggested. I argue that such a view fails to differentiate the explanatory uses of mathematics within science from the non-explanatory uses. I go on to offer a solution to this problem by combining elements of the counterfactual theory of explanation with elements of a unification theory of explanation. The result is a theory according to which a counterfactual is explanatory when it is an instance of a generalized counterfactual scheme.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	535-562
Number of pages	28
Journal	Mind: a quarterly review of philosophy
Volume	129
Issue number	514
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/fzz008
Publication status	Published - 1 Apr 2020

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10.1093/mind/fzz008

Baron S., 2019 Counterfactual Scheming
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Mind following peer review. The version of record Sam Baron, Counterfactual Scheming, Mind, fzz008, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/mind/fzz008
Accepted author manuscript, 181 KB

Cite this

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Counterfactual Scheming

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A World Without Time: Timelessness in Physics and Metaphysics

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Counterfactual Scheming

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A World Without Time: Timelessness in Physics and Metaphysics

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