We talk about explanations all the time whether in everyday conversations or in physics, chemistry, medicine, engineering, or economics. But what is an explanation? What is needed in order to have an explanation of something? Are there fundamentally different kinds of explanation? Are there distinctive forms of explanation in mathematics or metaphysics? Does all explanation have to do with causation? Do all explanations need to be backed by laws? Do explanatory relations determine the fundamental structure of reality? Instructor Permission Required.
4 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit
We talk about explanations all the time whether in everyday conversations or in physics, chemistry, medicine, engineering, or economics. But what is an explanation? What is needed in order to have an explanation of something? Are there fundamentally different kinds of explanation? Are there distinctive forms of explanation in mathematics or metaphysics? Does all explanation have to do with causation? Do all explanations need to be backed by laws? Do explanatory relations determine the fundamental structure of reality? Instructor Permission Required.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.