Ambiguity and explanation. Issue 8 (17th November 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shaheen, Jonathan L.
• Is Part Of: Inquiry. Volume 60:Issue 8(2017)
• Page Start: 839
• Page End: 866
• Publication Date: 2017-11-17
• Subjects: Metaphysical explanation -- causal explanation -- grounding -- polysemy -- why questions; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social sciences -- Philosophy -- Periodicals; Philosophy -- Periodicals; Social Sciences -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; Philosophie -- Périodiques; Sciences sociales -- Philosophie -- Périodiques; 105
• DOI: 10.1080/0020174X.2016.1175379
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-174X

Abstract

Abstract : This paper presents evidence that 'because' is importantly ambiguous between two closely related senses covering what are usually called causal explanations, on the one hand, and grounding or metaphysical explanations, on the other hand. To this end, it introduces the lexical categories of monosemy, polysemy and homonymy; describes a test for polysemy; and discusses the results of the test when applied to 'because'. It also shows how to understand so-called hybrid explanations in light of the semantic facts established by the analysis.