Collaborative explanation and biological mechanisms

This paper motivates and outlines a new account of scientific explanation, which I term ‘collaborative explanation.’ My approach is pluralist: I do not claim that all scientific explanations are collaborative, but only that some important scientific explanations are—notably those of complex organic processes like development. Collaborative explanation is closely related to what philosophers of biology term ‘mechanistic explanation’ (e.g., Machamer et al., Craver, 2007). I begin with minimal conditions for mechanisms: complexity, causality, and multilevel structure. Different accounts of mechanistic explanation interpret and prioritize these conditions in different ways. This framework reveals two distinct varieties of mechanistic explanation: causal and constitutive. The two have heretofore been conflated, with philosophical discussion focusing on the former. This paper addresses the imbalance, using a case study of modeling practices in Systems Biology to reveals key features of constitutive mechanistic explanation. I then propose an analysis of this variety of mechanistic explanation, in terms of collaborative concepts, and sketch the outlines of a general theory of collaborative explanation. I conclude with some reflections on the connection between this variety of explanation and social aspects of scientific practice.     

Collaborative explanation,explanatory roles,and scientific explaining in practice

Scientific explanation is a perennial topic in philosophy of science, but the literature has fragmented into specialized discussions in different scientific disciplines. An increasing attention to scientific practice by philosophers is (in part) responsible for this fragmentation and has put pressure on criteria of adequacy for philosophical accounts of explanation, usually demanding some form of pluralism. This commentary examines the arguments offered by Fagan and Woody with respect to explanation and understanding in scientific practice. I begin by scrutinizing Fagan's concept of collaborative explanation, highlighting its distinctive advantages and expressing concern about several of its assumptions. Then I analyze Woody's attempt to reorient discussions of scientific explanation around functional considerations, elaborating on the wider implications of this methodological recommendation. I conclude with reflections on synergies and tensions that emerge when the two papers are juxtaposed and how these draw attention to critical issues that confront ongoing philosophical analyses of scientific explanation.     

美国农业保险的实务操作规章与借鉴?

通过全面研读2012农事年美国农业保险手册,总结美国农业保险实务操作,结合我国农业保险现状,主要有以下启示:1)重视历史数据,实际产量历史数据库是农业保险的基础;2)重视可操作性,保险规章要求事无巨细,详尽规范;3)农业保险合同中的土地投保单元设置多样化.     

体育院校英语专业翻译实践教学模式研究

翻译是英语专业开设的一门实践性很强的主干课程。翻译实践教学的实施情况直接关系到学生翻译实践能力的提高。以翻译实践能力为视角阐述目前体育院校翻译教学面临的困境并对产生的原因进行分析，在此基础上构建体育院校英语专业翻译实践教学模式，课内实训和课外实践相结合，建立互助翻译小组、采用“以过程为导向”的教学方法、改革考核方式、组建课外翻译团队、开发利用网络资源、布置务实的翻译作业，以期提高学生翻译能力和团队协作能力。     

医学实习生学习共享空间（LC）的构建

分析了医学实习生教育的特点，解释了学习共享空间的概念，详细介绍了学习共享空间构建的方式，以满足实习生的多种学习需求。     

青海大学《电路原理》课程教学改革探索

根据国内外教育发展理念的演变,指出了青海大学《电路原理》课程教学现状和不足之处,通过与清华大学该课程教学情况进行对比,从教学内容、教学手段、教学资源和教学模式改革4个方面着手,探寻出一条适合青海大学《电路原理》课程教学改革的思路。     

“薪酬管理”课程实践环节探讨

＂薪酬管理＂是人力资源管理专业的核心课程之一,从国家人力资源管理师对相应人员的能力要求以及薪酬管理工作的典型工作任务入手,对实践环节划分了基本技能和较高技能两个方面,提出基本技能以＂1＋n＂模式实现,较高技能则通过任务驱动模式实现,并提出了两者的考核内容和方式。     

本科生数学教育实习工作的几点注记

该文的主要目的是列举出数学专业本科生实习过程中教学出现的四个缺陷,即函数定义、函数图像、函数单调性、轨迹问题讲解的缺陷,为今后实习生及教师改进教育实习质量提供借鉴.     

光电智能设计与应用综合平台建设探索

光电智能设计和应用综合平台是以光电应用技术为核心,综合光电子学、光学、电子学、计算机技术、机械设计等各学科知识的跨学科、跨专业实验课程。高校建设跨专业综合实训平台,对提升实验水平有着非同寻常的意义。文中从平台建设的必要性及构建方案等方面深入反思,并结合学院的实际情况对平台建设进行了探索。