Single Idea 15831

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / a. Explanation]

Full Idea

I suggest that states of affairs constitute the objects of the theory of explanation.

Gist of Idea

Explanations have states of affairs as their objects

Source

Roderick Chisholm (Person and Object [1976], 4.4)

Book Reference

Chisholm,Roderick: 'Person and Object' [Open Court 1976], p.124


A Reaction

It is good to ask what the constituents of a theory of explanation might be. He has an all-embracing notion of state of affairs, whereas I would say that events and processes are separate. See Idea 15828.

Related Idea

Idea 15828 I propose that events and propositions are two types of states of affairs [Chisholm]