The Instrumental Value of Explanations

Datos Bibliográficos

ID4977848
AutoresTania Lombrozo (0000-0001-5637-1431, University of California System, autor de correspondencia)
Año2011
Volumen6
Número8
Páginas539-551
Fecha de publicación2011-08-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPhilosophy Compass (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1747-9991 • E-ISSN: 1747-9991
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1747-9991.2011.00413.x
OpenAlexW1903964690
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas28
Referencias citadas45

Scientific and 'intuitive' or 'folk' theories are typically characterized as serving three critical functions: prediction, explanation, and control. While prediction and control have clear instrumental value, the value of explanation is less transparent. This paper reviews an emerging body of research from the cognitive sciences suggesting that the process of seeking, generating, and evaluating explanations in fact contributes to future prediction and control, albeit indirectly by facilitating the discovery and confirmation of instrumentally valuable theories. Theoretical and empirical considerations also suggest why explanations may nonethelessfeelintrinsically valuable. The paper concludes by considering some implications of the psychology of explanation for a naturalized philosophy of explanation

Cognition · Cognitive science · Epistemology · Biomedical Text Mining and Ontologies · Computer Science · Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI · Philosophy · Philosophy and History of Science · Psychology · Artificial Intelligence