“Function Statements” is reprinted by permission from Philosophy of Science 44 (1977), 341-367 (selected for Philosopher's Annual 1977).

I introduce counterexamples to three standard accounts of functions (good consequence, goal, and etiological theories) and pro­pose a positive account in terms of a means-end relationship and the idea of design, use, or benefit. I also argue that function statements can provide different types of explanations, including noncausal ex­planations of the presence of the item with the function.

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