In this paper, I offer an explication of the notion of local explanation. In the literature, local explanations are considered as metaphysically and methodologically satisfactory: local explanations reveal the contingency of science and provide a methodologically sound historiography of science. However, the lack of explication of the notion of local explanation makes these claims difficult to assess. The explication provided in this paper connects the degree of locality of an explanans to the degree of contingency of the explanandum. Moreover, the explication is shown to be compatible with the methodological need for a general consideration in the historiography of science. In this way, the explication (i) satisfies the need to explicate an important notion, (ii) connects local explanations and contingency, and (iii) enables us to see how local explanations and general considerations can be connected. However, the explication also sheds critical light on many claims and expectations that are associated with local explanations and their satisfactoriness.

中文翻译：

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科学史学中的地方性解释

在本文中，我对本地解释的概念进行了说明。在文献中，局部解释被认为是形而上学和方法论上令人满意的：局部解释揭示了科学的偶然性，并提供了方法论上合理的科学史学。但是，由于缺乏当地解释的概念，这些说法难以评估。本文提供的说明将解释词的局部程度与解释词的偶然程度联系起来。此外，该说明与科学史学中普遍考虑的方法学要求兼容。这样，说明（i）满足了说明重要概念的需要；（ii）结合了当地的解释和偶然性，（iii）使我们能够了解如何将本地解释和一般考虑联系起来。但是，该说明也为与本地解释及其令人满意性相关的许多主张和期望提供了重要的启示。