Editing Explanation (section)

==Scientific explanation==
The recent discussions presuppose that science offers explanations (rather than mere description) and that the task of a theory or model of scientific explanation is to outline the structure of such explanations. It is thus assumed that there is a single kind or form of explanation that is “scientific”. In fact, the notion of “scientific explanation” suggests a contrast between those "explanations", that are characteristic of "science" and those which are outside the science, and second a contrast between "explanation" and something else.                                   

However, the tendency in much of the recent philosophical literature has been to assume that there is a substantial continuity between the sorts of explanations found in science and at least some forms of explanation found in more ordinary non-scientific contexts, with the latter embodying in a more or less inchoate way features that are present in a more detailed, precise, rigorous etc. form in the former. It is further assumed that it is the task of a theory of explanation to capture what is common to both scientific and at least some more ordinary forms of explanation.<ref name="SEP">{{cite SEP |url-id=scientific-explanation |title=Scientific Explanation|author-last=Woodward|author-first=James|author-last2=Ross|author-first2=Lauren}}</ref>

A notable theory of scientific explanation is Hempel's [[Deductive-nomological model]]. This model has been widely criticized{{By whom| date = September 2023
}} but it is still the starting point for discussion of most theories of explanation.