Philosophy 382
Bradford Skow

	
						Handout on Locality and Explanation
						


Lange's argument concerning locality and explanation:


	1.	If gravitational interaction is nonlocal, then there is no explanation 	
		why the gravitational force decreases with the square of the
		distance.
		
	2.	There is an explanation why the force decreases with the square of
		the distance.
	
	3.	Therefore, gravitational interaction is local.
	


Lange's argument against PSR (where A is any contingent fact):


	1.	If PSR, then either the chain of explanations starting at A goes on 
		forever; or the chain ends in a fact that explains itself; or the chain 
		goes in a circle.
		
	2.	The chain of explanations starting at A does not go on forever; and
		the chain of explanations starting at A does not end in a fact that
		explains itself; and the chair of explanations starting at A does not
		go in a circle.

	3. 	Therefore, not-PSR.
	
	

Definition:

	F is a brute fact =df. F has no explanation.
	
	

An argument for PSR:

	1.	If PSR is false, then no contingent fact has an explanation.

	2.	Some contingent fact has an explanation.

	3.	So, PSR is true.