Of strawberries and energy conservation

Abstract

Marc draws a distinction between causal explanations and non-causal explanations and argues that non-causal explanations exist. Marc has his own way of drawing the distinction; other philosophers draw the distinction differently. How does Marc draw it? He writes: the distinction between “causal” and “non-causal” explanations (as I will use these terms) lies in how they work—that is, in what gives them explanatory power. A “non-causal” explanation may incidentally identify (or, at least, supply information about) causes of what is being explained. But it does not derive its explanatory power by virtue of doing so. (3; my emphasis)