An Introduction to Grounding

Consider the fact that there was a global economic recession in 2008. A causal explanation of this fact specifies facts that were causally responsible for the economic meltdown or facts on which the meltdown counterfactually depends such as the occurrence of predatory lending, deregulation of financial institutions, weak underwriting practices, and so on. It seems that a metaphysical explanation of this fact, on the other hand, shows us why the global economic situation in 2008 counted as a recession in the first place. In this case, an explanans is the fact that 2008 was marked by severe declines in consumption, investment, government spending, and export activity.