Multilevel Ensemble Explanations: A Case from Theoretical Biology

Rivelli, Luca

doi:10.1162/posc_a_00301

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 17 publications

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“…Finally, the criterion about explanatory perspectivism also helps to delimit distinctively topological explanations from the other types of explanation or ensembles of explanations [36,37]. For example, sometimes we want to understand very particular phenomena (such as why certain connections exist) or perhaps very complex phenomena (such as development of certain dynamical constraints, e.g.…”

Section: (Explanatory Perspectivism)mentioning

confidence: 99%

General theory of topological explanations and explanatory asymmetry

Kostić

2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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In this paper, I present a general theory of topological explanations, and illustrate its fruitfulness by showing how it accounts for explanatory asymmetry. My argument is developed in three steps. In the first step, I show what it is for some topological property A to explain some physical or dynamical property B . Based on that, I derive three key criteria of successful topological explanations: a criterion concerning the facticity of topological explanations, i.e. what makes it true of a particular system; a criterion for describing counterfactual dependencies in two explanatory modes, i.e. the vertical and the horizontal and, finally, a third perspectival one that tells us when to use the vertical and when to use the horizontal mode. In the second step, I show how this general theory of topological explanations accounts for explanatory asymmetry in both the vertical and horizontal explanatory modes. Finally, in the third step, I argue that this theory is universally applicable across biological sciences, which helps in unifying essential concepts of biological networks. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Unifying the essential concepts of biological networks: biological insights and philosophical foundations'.

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Section: (Explanatory Perspectivism)mentioning

confidence: 99%

General theory of topological explanations and explanatory asymmetry

Kostić

2020

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Rest assured: Dynamic functional connectivity and the baseline state of the human brain

Tagliazucchi

2024

Imaging Neuroscience

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While dynamic functional connectivity remains controversial in human neuroimaging, the transient nature of interareal coupling is considered a robust finding in other fields of neuroscience. Nevertheless, the origin and interpretation of these dynamics are still under debate. This letter argues that ongoing cognition is not sufficient to account for dynamic functional connectivity. Instead, it is proposed that the baseline state of the brain is inherently unstable, leading to dynamics that are of neural origin but not directly implicated in cognition. This perspective also reinforces the usefulness of conducting experiments during the resting state.

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Multilevel Ensemble Explanations: A Case from Theoretical Biology

Cited by 2 publications

References 17 publications

General theory of topological explanations and explanatory asymmetry

General theory of topological explanations and explanatory asymmetry

Rest assured: Dynamic functional connectivity and the baseline state of the human brain

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