What is an answer without a Question?

UCalgary philosophy MA student Elias Yuan won the best paper prize at the Western Canadian Philosophy Association meeting at the University of British Columbia on October 21st, 2023.

The paper is titled "What is an Answer without a Question?: Context Should be Considered when Determining Explanatory Power."  James Woodward’s interventionist account of scientific explanation contends that invariance is the key feature which gives explanatory power to a generalization in biology. Elias's paper explores the limits of Woodward’s account and argues that a pluralistic account for explanation based on the ‘why?’ questions involved better captures the role of generalizations in biology.

They were awarded a certificate, a UBC Department of Philosophy mug, and a $100 gift card for the UBC bookstore. Congratulations, Elias!