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Why-questions, determinism and circular reasoning
Authors:Gary Colwell
Affiliation:(1) Dept of Philosophy, Concordia University College of Alberta, 7128 Ada Boulevard, T5B 4E4 Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Abstract:In this article I shall aim at showing that there exists beneath the surface of many why-questions about human behaviour a nest of deterministic assumptions which can preclude their ever being truly answered. A symptom of the presence of these underlying assumptions can be observed in an explanation-seeking dialogue in which the questioner persistently tries to discover lsquowhyrsquo a certain human behaviour occurred. He repeats his why-question until he gets the type of answer he wants, but in the process he effectively reasons in a circle. If the repeated questioning with its implied circular reasoning becomes chronic, then the questioner will beg the question with regards to the answer he desires and consequently run the risk of missing the truth.
Keywords:why-questions  determinism  freedom  circular reasoning  beg the question  scientific explanation
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