Abstract
The Hempel-Popper dictum that causal explanations require hypotheses cast in universal form encourages bad generalizations. Generalizations relative to a context are more fruitful for the social scientist (even physical "laws" may be relative to such contexts as an expanding universe). Causal explanation is complementary, not opposed, to explanations by imaginative re-enactment. Rational explanation, one type of imaginative re-enactment, often involves causal explanation, in showing chosen means to be appropriate for a given end; and causal explanation usually involves imaginative re-enactment in establishing the meaning that actions have for agents.