Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An approach to why-questions

  • Published:
Synthese Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to give a semantical analysis of why-questions. Why-questions will be construed as requests for knowledge. Special attention will be paid to considering what the conditions for conclusive answerhood are in the case of why-questions. Since explanations can often be thought of as answers to why-questions, we also discuss some topics in the theory of explanation.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aristotle: 1928,Analytica Posteriora, in W. D. Ross (ed. and trans.),Works of Aristotle translated into English, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromberger, S.: 1965, ‘An Approach to Explanation’, in R. J. Butler (ed.),Analytical Philosophy, 2nd Series, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bromberger, S.: 1966, ‘Why-Questions’, in R. Coldny (ed.),Mind and Cosmos, Pittsburgh University Press, Pittsburgh.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garfinkel, A.: 1981,Forms of Explanation, Yale University Press, New Haven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hintikka, J.: 1976, ‘The Semantics of Questions and the Questions of Semantics’,Acta Philosophica Fennica 28, No. 4.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hintikka, J.: 1981, ‘On the Logic of an Interrogative Model of Scientific Discovery’,Synthese 47, 69–83.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hintikka, J.: 1983, ‘New Foundations for a Theory of Questions and Answers’, in F. Kiefer (ed.),Questions and Answers, D. Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hintikka, J.: 1984, ‘Rules, Utilities, and Strategies in Dialogical Games’, in L. Vaina and J. Hintikka (eds.),Cognitive Constraints on Communication, D. Reidel, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hume, D.: 1902,Enquiries, 2nd edition, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, D.: 1973,Counterfactuals, Basil Blackwell, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, D.: 1975, ‘Causation’, in E. Sosa (ed.),Causation and Conditionals, Oxford University Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Scriven, M.: 1962, ‘Explanations, Predictions, and Laws’, in H. Feigl and G. Maxwell (eds.),Minnesota Studies in the Philosophy of Science, Vol. III: Scientific Explanation, Space, and Time.

  • Sintonen, M.: 1984, ‘On the Logic of Why-Questions’, paper presented at the Ninth Biennal PSA Meeting, Chicago, October 18–21, 1984.

  • van Fraassen, B.: 1980,The Scientific Image, Clarendon Press, Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Philosophy, University of Turku, SF-20500, Turku, Finland

    Antti Koura

Authors
  1. Antti Koura
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This study was supported by the Academy of Finland (Valtion humanistinen toimikunta) and by NSF grant No. IST-8310936 (Information Science and Technology), principal investigators Jaakko Hintikka and C. J. B. Macmillan. Scholarships from the Emil Aaltonen Foundation and the Finnish Academy of Sciences (Suomalainen Tiedeakatemia) are gratefully acknowledged.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Koura, A. An approach to why-questions. Synthese 74, 191–206 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869552

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869552

Keywords

Search

Navigation