Abstract

Realist theories of explanation in the analytic tradition have generally ignored the epistemic side of explanation, namely, understanding. The project I pursue in this dissertation is formulating a theory of understanding that fits with most realist approaches to explanation. One of the main motivations for pursuing such a project is to determine whether and how the explanatory virtues--the characteristics of simplicity, unity, scope, etc.--can be fit with the general realist program. After presenting and arguing for my account of understanding, I put forth a "deflated" account of the explanatory virtues for the explanatory realist. I argue that such a deflated account gives the strongest possible role to these virtues that the realist can give, without committing himself to a suspect a priori claim about the way the world must be structured