Boone, Worth
(2020)
Functional Robustness:
A New Framework for Multiple Realization and its Epistemic Consequences.
Doctoral Dissertation, University of Pittsburgh.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
In this dissertation, I provide a novel account of multiple realization. My account reframes the concept in terms of causal theories of explanation, in contrast to the original framing in terms of the deductive-nomological theory of explanation. I align my account of multiple realization with the phenomenon of functional robustness, particularly by examining a number of cases of robustness in neural systems. I then explore the epistemic consequences of functional robustness. In particular, I argue that systems that exhibit robustness will tend to violate causal faithfulness, thus posing challenges to causal hypothesis testing and causal discovery. I then consider the proposal that robustness undermines modularity - i.e. the ability of causal relationships within a system to be disrupted independently. I argue that it does not and instead that robustness often is due to feedback control driving systems toward particular outcomes. As a result, robustness will attend failures of acyclicity, not failures of modularity. I conclude by contrasting these epistemic consequences of functional robustness with those traditionally associated with multiple realization.
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Details
| Item Type: |
University of Pittsburgh ETD
|
| Status: |
Unpublished |
| Creators/Authors: |
|
| ETD Committee: |
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| Date: |
16 January 2020 |
| Date Type: |
Publication |
| Defense Date: |
3 October 2019 |
| Approval Date: |
16 January 2020 |
| Submission Date: |
12 December 2019 |
| Access Restriction: |
No restriction; Release the ETD for access worldwide immediately. |
| Number of Pages: |
124 |
| Institution: |
University of Pittsburgh |
| Schools and Programs: |
Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences > History and Philosophy of Science |
| Degree: |
PhD - Doctor of Philosophy |
| Thesis Type: |
Doctoral Dissertation |
| Refereed: |
Yes |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Causation, Causal Inference, Neuroscience, Robustness, Multiple Realization, Complex Systems |
| Date Deposited: |
16 Jan 2020 16:42 |
| Last Modified: |
16 Jan 2020 16:42 |
| URI: |
http://d-scholarship.pitt.edu/id/eprint/38020 |
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