Spiegare i fenomeni senza cause. La spiegazione strutturale in fisica.

Abstract:

In this article we present the structural model of scientific explanation. The original idea, formulated by R.I.G. Hughes, is illustrated and further developed over three main axes. First, we clarify how structural explanation works and formulate the conditions that a mathematical model must satisfy in order to be explanatory of a physical model. Secondly, we defend the non-causal nature of the structural explanation. Finally, we characterize structural explanation as a mathematical explanation of physical phenomena.