Thinking and Reasoning 2 (4):273 – 308 (1996)
Abstract |
Good explanations are not only true or probably true, but are also relevant to a causal question. Current models of causal explanation either only address the question of the truth of an explanation, or do not distinguish the probability of an explanation from its relevance. The tasks of scenario construction and conversational explanation are distinguished, which in turn shows how scenarios can interact with conversational principles to determine the truth and relevance of explanations. The proposed model distinguishes causal discounting from causal backgrounding , and makes predictions concerning the differential effects of contextual information about alternative explanations on: (a) the kind of mental models constructed; (b) belief revision about probable cause; and (c) the perceived quality of a focal explanation. Four experiments are reported that test these predictions. The significance of the notion of explanatory relevance for research on causal explanation is then discussed.
|
Keywords | No keywords specified (fix it) |
Categories | (categorize this paper) |
DOI | 10.1080/135467896394447 |
Options |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Download options
References found in this work BETA
Human Inference: Strategies and Shortcomings of Social Judgment.Christopher Cherniak, Richard Nisbett & Lee Ross - 1983 - Philosophical Review 92 (3):462.
Logic and Conversation.H. Paul Grice - 1989 - In Studies in the Way of Words. Harvard University Press. pp. 22-40.
Two Notes on the Probabilistic Approach to Causality.Germund Hesslow - 1976 - Philosophy of Science 43 (2):290-292.
Evaluation of Evidence in Causal Inference.Miriam W. Schustack & Robert J. Sternberg - 1981 - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 110 (1):101-120.
View all 22 references / Add more references
Citations of this work BETA
The Structure and Function of Explanations.Tania Lombrozo - 2006 - Trends in Cognitive Sciences 10 (10):464-470.
Naive Causality: A Mental Model Theory of Causal Meaning and Reasoning.Eugenia Goldvarg & P. N. Johnson-Laird - 2001 - Cognitive Science 25 (4):565-610.
Judgment Dissociation Theory: An Analysis of Differences in Causal, Counterfactual and Covariational Reasoning.David R. Mandel - 2003 - Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 132 (3):419.
Reasoning From Inconsistency to Consistency.P. N. Johnson-Laird, Vittorio Girotto & Paolo Legrenzi - 2004 - Psychological Review 111 (3):640-661.
View all 15 citations / Add more citations
Similar books and articles
Symposium on Explanations and Social Ontology 2: Explanatory Ecumenism and Economics Imperialism.Uskali Mäki - 2002 - Economics and Philosophy 18 (2):235-257.
Explanatory Relevance Across Disciplinary Boundaries: The Case of Neuroeconomics.Jaakko Kuorikoski & Petri Ylikoski - 2010 - Journal of Economic Methodology 17 (2):219–228.
Salmon on Explanatory Relevance.Christopher Read Hitchcock - 1995 - Philosophy of Science 62 (2):304-320.
Understanding Science: Why Causes Are Not Enough.Ruth Berger - 1998 - Philosophy of Science 65 (2):306-332.
Models of Intentional Explanation.Robrecht Vanderbeeken - 2004 - Philosophical Explorations 7 (3):233 – 246.
Analytics
Added to PP index
2009-02-11
Total views
66 ( #175,238 of 2,517,903 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #409,045 of 2,517,903 )
2009-02-11
Total views
66 ( #175,238 of 2,517,903 )
Recent downloads (6 months)
1 ( #409,045 of 2,517,903 )
How can I increase my downloads?
Downloads