Explanatory Generalizations, Part I: A Counterfactual Account

摘要: [Introduction] The nomothetic conception of explanation, according to which all successful explanations must appeal laws, has dominated the discussion scientific explanation in second half twentieth century. best known formulation is, course, Hempel’s Deductive-Nomological theory explanation. While few philosophers today accept D-N its original formulation, there is widespread consensus that laws play a central role even among prominent critics model such as Wesley Salmon (see, e.g., 1984, p. 262).