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AI & SOCIETY

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15-08-2015 | Original Article

Explanation in philosophy and the limits of precision

Authors: Rebecca Bendick, Albert Borgmann

Published in: AI & SOCIETY | Issue 2/2017

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Abstract

A look at the beginning of philosophy and a consideration of contemporary Anglo-American philosophy show that precision of presentation is a commendable and widely pursued goal. There is a trade-off, however, between precision and richness of presentation. As precision gets sharpened, impoverishment of subject matter advances, often without recognition of the price that is paid for precision. A precise way of illustrating the trade-off in question is to take a precise meteorological model, consider how little it tells us about the weather, enrich the model, and see how precision loses its edge. The works of Heidegger and Rawls are mentioned as exemplars of balance between precision and richness.

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Title: Explanation in philosophy and the limits of precision
Authors: Rebecca Bendick
Albert Borgmann
Publication date: 15-08-2015
Publisher: Springer London
Published in: AI & SOCIETY / Issue 2/2017
Print ISSN: 0951-5666
Electronic ISSN: 1435-5655
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00146-015-0606-7

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