On Computational Explanations

Anna-Mari Rusanen, Otto Lappi

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Computational explanations focus on information processing required in specific cognitive capacities, such as perception, reasoning or decision-making. These explanations specify the nature of the information processing task, what information needs to be represented, and why it should be operated on in a particular manner. In this article, the focus is on three questions concerning the nature of computational explanations: (1) What type of explanations they are, (2) in what sense computational explanations are explanatory and (3) to what extent they involve a special, “independent” or “autonomous” level of explanation. In this paper, we defend the view computational explanations are genuine explanations, which track non-causal/formal dependencies. Specifically, we argue that they do not provide mere sketches for explanation, in contrast to what for example Piccinini and Craver (Synthese 183(3):283–311, 2011) suggest. This view of computational explanations implies some degree of “autonomy” for the computational level. However, as we will demonstrate that does not make this view “computationally chauvinistic” in a way that Piccinini (Synthese 153:343–353, 2006b) or Kaplan (Synthese 183(3):339–373, 2011) have charged it to be.
Original languageEnglish
JournalSynthese
Volume193
Issue number12
Pages (from-to)3931–3949
Number of pages19
ISSN0039-7857
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 27 May 2016
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Fields of Science

  • 515 Psychology
  • 611 Philosophy

Cite this

Rusanen, Anna-Mari ; Lappi, Otto. / On Computational Explanations. In: Synthese. 2016 ; Vol. 193, No. 12. pp. 3931–3949.
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Rusanen, A-M & Lappi, O 2016, 'On Computational Explanations', Synthese, vol. 193, no. 12, pp. 3931–3949. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-016-1101-5

On Computational Explanations. / Rusanen, Anna-Mari; Lappi, Otto.

In: Synthese, Vol. 193, No. 12, 27.05.2016, p. 3931–3949.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

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AB - Computational explanations focus on information processing required in specific cognitive capacities, such as perception, reasoning or decision-making. These explanations specify the nature of the information processing task, what information needs to be represented, and why it should be operated on in a particular manner. In this article, the focus is on three questions concerning the nature of computational explanations: (1) What type of explanations they are, (2) in what sense computational explanations are explanatory and (3) to what extent they involve a special, “independent” or “autonomous” level of explanation. In this paper, we defend the view computational explanations are genuine explanations, which track non-causal/formal dependencies. Specifically, we argue that they do not provide mere sketches for explanation, in contrast to what for example Piccinini and Craver (Synthese 183(3):283–311, 2011) suggest. This view of computational explanations implies some degree of “autonomy” for the computational level. However, as we will demonstrate that does not make this view “computationally chauvinistic” in a way that Piccinini (Synthese 153:343–353, 2006b) or Kaplan (Synthese 183(3):339–373, 2011) have charged it to be.

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Rusanen A-M, Lappi O. On Computational Explanations. Synthese. 2016 May 27;193(12):3931–3949. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11229-016-1101-5

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