A tale of two explanatory styles in cognitive psychology. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shapiro, Lawrence
• Other Names: Miłkowski Marcin guest-editor.; Hohol Mateusz guest-editor.; Nowakowski Przemysław guest-editor.
• Is Part Of: Theory & psychology. Volume 29:Number 5(2019:Oct.)
• Page Start: 719
• Page End: 735
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: cognitive science -- deductive nomological explanation -- explanation -- functional analysis -- mechanistic explanation; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.1
• DOI: 10.1177/0959354319866921
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3543

Abstract

The development of a theory of mechanistic explanation has been a welcome advance over previous theories of explanation, such as deductive nomological explanation. However, despite the claims of some supporters of mechanistic explanation, not all explanation in cognitive science is or should be mechanistic. I defend the claim that functional analysis remains a distinct and legitimate form of explanation within cognitive science.