PPT Week 39

Question 1

Give an example of explanans and explanandum

Answer 1

Explanans: giraffes can reach higher leaves
Explanandum: giraffes have a long neck

The causal connection is another way around.

Explanans explains the explanandum

Question 2

What are the 3 modes of explanations?

Answer 2

1) causal explanations: the explanandum is the cause of the explanandum
2) functional explanations: the explanans is the function of the explanandum
3) intentional explanations: the explanans is the intention behind the explanandum. (The explanation of behavior is found in the intention behind it)

Question 3

What is the counterfactual theory of causation?

Answer 3

X is the cause of Y if X precedes y and if y wound not have happened without X

Causation is established through experiments (i.e. real pills vs placebo pills)

Question 4

Functional explanations

Answer 4

Functional explanations only work within a bigger system

Giraffe has a long neck so that he can reach higher leaves
Other biology facts

Functional explanations don’t explain causality

Question 5

Intentional explanation

Answer 5

Intention (explanans) => behavior (explanandum)

Strongly ontological assumptions about individuals

Question 6

Resource based view

Answer 6

Profitability is explained by the resources of the company

Question 7

System thinking

Answer 7

Parts cannot be understood separately from the whole

Question 8

Systems theory

Answer 8

The analytic framework to reason about systems

Question 9

Institutions as explanandum. 3 explanations:

Answer 9

Why do we drive on the right side of the road?

1) consequentialist (because it has positive consequences for the people following the institution
2) normative: because you ought to follow the instruction
3) cognitive: because people believe this is how the world works

Question 10

What is a fact-value distinction?

Answer 10

There are normative claims (how should it be, i.e moral claims) and empirical claims (how is it now)

Question 11

Social meaning approach

Answer 11

Individual does something because it has a meaning in a social context

I.e. people commit crime because it’s considered “cool”
(Durkheim thought the opposite- crime has a function in society as a whole and brings people together)

Institution - explanans (explains the behavior)

Question 12

What are the 3 ways to explain institutions?

Answer 12

3 explanations:

1. Consequentialist (it has positive consequences)
2. Normative - because you have to follow the rule
3. Cognitive - because people believe this is how the world works (I.e. walking on the right)