Grades of Explanation in Cognitive Science

Author: Montgomery R.¹

Source: Synthese, Volume 114, Number 3, March 1998 , pp. 463-495(33)

Publisher: Springer

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

I sketch an explanatory framework that fits a variety of contemporary research programs in cognitive science. I then investigate the scope and the implications of this framework. The framework emphasizes (a) the explanatory role played by the semantic content of cognitive representations, and (b) the important ``mechanistic'', non-intentional dimension of cognitive explanations. I show how both of these features are present simultaneously in certain varieties of cognitive explanation. I also consider the explanatory role played by grounded representational content, that is, content evaluated by appeal to its truth, falsity, accuracy, inaccuracy and other relational properties.

Language: English

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Philosophy, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6312, Morgantown, WV 26505, U.S.A. E-mail: rmontgom@wvu.edu

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$47.00 plus tax