The DOI matches its Crossref record; 68 of the 69 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
The Instrumental Value of Explanations
Abstract
Scientific and ‘intuitive’ or ‘folk’ theories are typically characterized as serving three critical functions: prediction, explanation, and control. While prediction and control have clear instrumental value, the value of explanation is less transparent. This paper reviews an emerging body of research from the cognitive sciences suggesting that the process of seeking, generating, and evaluating explanations in fact contributes to future prediction and control, albeit indirectly by facilitating the discovery and confirmation of instrumentally valuable theories. Theoretical and empirical considerations also suggest why explanations may nonetheless feel intrinsically valuable. The paper concludes by considering some implications of the psychology of explanation for a naturalized philosophy of explanation.
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“Philosophical and empirical research has converged on the thesis that we are particularly interested in causal explanations because they provide us with reliable means to affect and predict our surroundings”
From AI, Opacity, and Personal Autonomy (2022) · cites this paper as Lombrozo, 2011
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Self-citation
Metadata
- Authors
- Lombrozo, T.
- Affiliations
- University of California System (US)
- Corresponding author
- Lombrozo, Tania
- ORCID
- Lombrozo, Tania
- Venue
- Philosophy Compass
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2011-08
- Volume
- 6
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 539-551
- ISSN
- 1747-9991 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1903964690
- Cited by
- 118
- References
- 69
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 24 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 9 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 4
- FWCI
- 14.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Philosophy Compass (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Philosophy of Biology and Scientific Explanation
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Epistemology, Ethics, and Metaphysics
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › History and Philosophy of Science › Logic and Philosophy of Science
- Keywords
- explanation, prediction, control, folk theories, scientific theories, cognitive science, theory evaluation
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