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Collaborative explanation and biological mechanisms.

Melinda Bonnie Fagan1

  • 1Department of Philosophy, University of Utah, United States.

Studies in History and Philosophy of Science
|July 22, 2015
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This study introduces collaborative explanation, a new framework for understanding complex biological processes. It distinguishes between causal and constitutive mechanistic explanations, highlighting the latter with a Systems Biology case study.

Keywords:
Collaborative explanationExplanationMechanismsScientific practice

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Area of Science:

  • Philosophy of Science
  • Systems Biology
  • Philosophy of Biology

Background:

  • Scientific explanation is crucial for understanding complex phenomena, particularly in biology.
  • Existing mechanistic explanations often conflate causal and constitutive aspects.
  • A need exists for a nuanced account of mechanistic explanation that addresses these distinctions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce and outline a novel framework termed 'collaborative explanation.'
  • To differentiate between causal and constitutive mechanistic explanations.
  • To analyze constitutive mechanistic explanation using Systems Biology modeling practices.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis of mechanistic explanation, focusing on complexity, causality, and multilevel structure.
  • Case study involving modeling practices in Systems Biology.
  • Development of a collaborative explanation framework.

Main Results:

  • Identification of two distinct varieties of mechanistic explanation: causal and constitutive.
  • Demonstration that constitutive mechanistic explanation has been underexplored.
  • Illustration of constitutive mechanistic explanation through Systems Biology case studies.

Conclusions:

  • Collaborative explanation offers a valuable lens for understanding complex organic processes.
  • Distinguishing between causal and constitutive mechanisms provides a more accurate account of scientific explanation.
  • The social aspects of scientific practice are integral to collaborative explanation.