Reasons Why

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Logic
Cover of the book Reasons Why by Bradford Skow, OUP Oxford
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Bradford Skow ISBN: 9780191088872
Publisher: OUP Oxford Publication: August 18, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford Language: English
Author: Bradford Skow
ISBN: 9780191088872
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Publication: August 18, 2016
Imprint: OUP Oxford
Language: English

Reasons Why first argues that what philosophers are really after, or at least should be after, when they seek a theory of explanation, is a theory of answers to why-questions. It then advances a thesis about what form a theory of answers to why-questions should take: a theory of answers to why-questions should say what it takes for one fact to be a reason why another fact obtains. The book's main thesis, then, is a theory of reasons why. Every reason why some event happened is either a cause, or a ground, of that event. Challenging this thesis are many examples philosophers have thought they have found of "non-causal explanations." Reasons Why uses two ideas to show that these examples are not counterexamples to the theory it defends. First is the idea that not every part of a good response to a why-question is part of an answer to that why-question. Second is the idea that not every reason why something is a reason why an event happened is itself a reason why that event happened. In the book's final chapter its theory of reasons why is extended to cover teleological answers to why-questions, and answers to why-questions that give an agent's reason for acting.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Reasons Why first argues that what philosophers are really after, or at least should be after, when they seek a theory of explanation, is a theory of answers to why-questions. It then advances a thesis about what form a theory of answers to why-questions should take: a theory of answers to why-questions should say what it takes for one fact to be a reason why another fact obtains. The book's main thesis, then, is a theory of reasons why. Every reason why some event happened is either a cause, or a ground, of that event. Challenging this thesis are many examples philosophers have thought they have found of "non-causal explanations." Reasons Why uses two ideas to show that these examples are not counterexamples to the theory it defends. First is the idea that not every part of a good response to a why-question is part of an answer to that why-question. Second is the idea that not every reason why something is a reason why an event happened is itself a reason why that event happened. In the book's final chapter its theory of reasons why is extended to cover teleological answers to why-questions, and answers to why-questions that give an agent's reason for acting.

More books from OUP Oxford

Cover of the book Common Writing by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Making Amulets Christian by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Cyber Operations and the Use of Force in International Law by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book The Brain as a Tool by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Democracy When the People Are Thinking by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Why Does Inequality Matter? by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Experiencing Pain in Imperial Greek Culture by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book The Dance of Air and Sea by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Key Ideas in Teaching Mathematics by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Migrants at Work by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Systemic Lupus Erythematosus by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Musical Imaginations by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Hitler's Collaborators by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Alcohol by Bradford Skow
Cover of the book Oxford Studies in Political Philosophy Volume 4 by Bradford Skow
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy