Lawler, Insa (2018) Levels of reasons why and answers to why-questions. [Preprint]

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Abstract

According to Skow (2016, 2017), correct answers to why-questions only cite causes or grounds, but not non-accidental regularities. Accounts that cite non-accidental regularities typically confuse second-level reasons with first-level reasons. Only causes and grounds are first-level reasons why. Non-accidental regularities are second-level reasons why. I first show that Skow’s arguments for the accusation of confusion depend on the independent thesis that only citations of first-level reasons why are (parts of) answers to why-questions. Then, I argue that this thesis is false. Consequently, the claim that correct answers to why-questions only cite causes or grounds is refuted as well.

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Item Type:	Preprint
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID Lawler, Insa insa.lawler@uni-due.de 0000-0002-1250-6020
Additional Information:	discussion note accepted by the journal Philosophy of Science
Keywords:	why-questions; reasons why; non-accidental regularities; explanations
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation
Depositing User:	Dr. Insa Lawler
Date Deposited:	20 Mar 2018 18:28
Last Modified:	20 Mar 2018 18:28
Item ID:	14484
Subjects:	General Issues > Explanation
Date:	19 March 2018
URI:	https://philsci-archive.pitt.edu/id/eprint/14484

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