When mechanistic models explain |
| |
Authors: | Carl F Craver |
| |
Institution: | (1) Department of Philosophy and Philosophy–Neuroscience-Psychology Program, Washington University, 1 Brockings Drive, St. Louis, MO 65130, USA |
| |
Abstract: | Not all models are explanatory. Some models are data summaries. Some models sketch explanations but leave crucial details unspecified or hidden behind filler terms. Some models are used to conjecture a how-possibly explanation without regard to whether it is a how-actually explanation. I use the Hodgkin and Huxley model of the action potential to illustrate these ways that models can be useful without explaining. I then use the subsequent development of the explanation of the action potential to show what is required of an adequate mechanistic model. Mechanistic models are explanatory. |
| |
Keywords: | Mechanisms Explanation Models Electrophysiology Action Potential Hodgkin Huxley Functional Analysis |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |