Mathematical Explanation in Computer Science

André CURTIS-TRUDEL

doi:10.1017/psa.2023.26

Mathematical Explanation in Computer Science

André CURTIS-TRUDEL^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Lingnan University

Research output: Journal Publications › Journal Article (refereed) › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

This note scouts a broad but underexplored class of explanations found in contemporary computer science. These explanations, which I call limitative explanations, explain why certain problems cannot be solved computationally. Limitative explanations are philosophically rich, but have not received the attention they deserve. The primary goals of this note are to isolate limitative explanations and provide a preliminary account of what makes them explanatory. On the account I favour, limitative explanations are a kind of non-causal mathematical explanation which depend on highly idealized models of computation.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1079-1088
Number of pages	10
Journal	Philosophy of Science
Volume	90
Issue number	5
Early online date	16 Feb 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.26 https://doi.org/10.1017/psa.2023.26
Publication status	Published - 16 Dec 2023

Bibliographical note

Thanks to Soyeong An, Zoe Ashton, Chris Pincock, Lisa Shabel, Richard Samuels, Stewart Shapiro, John Symons, and audiences at Western University and the Method, Theory, and Reality workshop for questions and discussion.

Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the Philosophy of Science Association.

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10.1017/psa.2023.26Licence: CC BY
10.1017/psa.2023.26

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N2 - This note scouts a broad but underexplored class of explanations found in contemporary computer science. These explanations, which I call limitative explanations, explain why certain problems cannot be solved computationally. Limitative explanations are philosophically rich, but have not received the attention they deserve. The primary goals of this note are to isolate limitative explanations and provide a preliminary account of what makes them explanatory. On the account I favour, limitative explanations are a kind of non-causal mathematical explanation which depend on highly idealized models of computation.

AB - This note scouts a broad but underexplored class of explanations found in contemporary computer science. These explanations, which I call limitative explanations, explain why certain problems cannot be solved computationally. Limitative explanations are philosophically rich, but have not received the attention they deserve. The primary goals of this note are to isolate limitative explanations and provide a preliminary account of what makes them explanatory. On the account I favour, limitative explanations are a kind of non-causal mathematical explanation which depend on highly idealized models of computation.

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JF - Philosophy of Science

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ER -

Mathematical Explanation in Computer Science

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Mathematical Explanation in Computer Science

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