Graduate students register for PHIL 261C. In this seminar we look into what makes a good explanation through three complementary perspectives. Philosophy attempts to define the normative criteria that make a scientific theory explanatory. Cognitive science looks into the criteria implicit in our common sense choices of explanations. Explainable AI tries to operationalize these principles into protocols for rendering black-box models interpretable. We look into how the normative criteria of philosophers inform our cognitive theories, and how both provide perspective into the goals and methods of XAI.
4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
Graduate students register for 261C. In this seminar we look into what makes a good explanation through three complementary perspectives. Philosophy attempts to define the normative criteria that make a scientific theory explanatory. Cognitive science looks into the criteria implicit in our common sense choices of explanations. Explainable AI tries to operationalize these principles into protocols for rendering black-box models interpretable. We look into how the normative criteria of philosophers inform our cognitive theories, and how both provide perspective into the goals and methods of XAI.
Offered in Spring 2026 at Stanford University.