Reasons Why

Synopsis

Reasons Why First Argues That What Philosophers Are Really After, Or At Least Should Be After, When They Seek A Theory Of Explanation, Is A Theory Of Answers To Why-questions. It Then Advances A Thesis About What Form A Theory Of Answers To Why-questions Should Take: A Theory Of Answers To Why-questions Should Say What It Takes For One Fact To Be A Reason Why Another Fact Obtains. The Book's Main Thesis, Then, Is A Theory Of Reasons Why. Every Reason Why Some Event Happened Is Either A Cause, Or A Ground, Of That Event. Challenging This Thesis Are Many Examples Philosophers Have Thought They Have Found Of Non-causal Explanations. Reasons Why Uses Two Ideas To Show That These Examples Are Not Counterexamples To The Theory It Defends. First Is The Idea That Not Every Part Of A Good Response To A Why-question Is Part Of An Answer To That Why-question. Second Is The Idea That Not Every Reason Why Something Is A Reason Why An Event Happened Is Itself A Reason Why That Event Happened. In The Book's Final Chapter Its Theory Of Reasons Why Is Extended To Cover Teleological Answers To Why-questions, And Answers To Why-questions That Give An Agent's Reason For Acting.-- A Few Opening Remarks -- From Explanations To Why-questions -- Reasons Why Are Causes Or Grounds -- Levels Of Reasons Why -- Applications -- Teleology And Reasons For Action -- Conclusion. Bradford Skow. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 183-189) And Index.