Reinterpreting Topological Explanations from the Perspective of Formal Understanding

Abstract

The concept of topological explanation has been discussed in contrast to mechanistic explanation since Philippe Huneman (2010) argued that it is becoming mainstream in biological research as a replacement for mechanistic explanation. Philosophers who defend topological explanation claim that it provides explanations in a mode different from mechanistic explanation. However, attempts to explain real-world phenomena by relying on the abstract concept of mathematical facts face ontological challenges, and topological explanation is no exception. This study provides an overview of the characteristics of topological explanation and examines the challenges it must overcome. Furthermore, as a method to address these challenges, this study explores the possibility of reconstructing topological explanation based on Kuorikoski's (2022) concept of formal understanding.