Definition of the word explanation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

An explanation is a set of statements usually constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies the causes, context, and consequences of those facts. It may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects or phenomena examined.^[1]

Explanation, in philosophy, is a set of statements that makes intelligible the existence or occurrence of an object, event, or state of affairs. Among its most common forms are:

• Causal explanation
• Deductive-nomological explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization from which it may be derived in a deductive argument (e.g., “All gases expand when heated; this gas was heated; therefore, this gas expanded”)
• Statistical explanation, which involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization that gives it inductive support (e.g., “Most people who use tobacco contract cancer; this person used tobacco; therefore, this person contracted cancer”).

Explanations of human behaviour typically appeal to the subject’s beliefs and desires, as well as other facts about him, and proceed on the assumption that the behaviour in question is rational (at least to a minimum degree). Thus an explanation of why the subject removed his coat might cite the fact that the subject felt hot, that the subject desired to feel cooler, and that the subject believed that he would feel cooler if he took off his coat.^[2]

Scientific explanation[edit]

A presupposition of most recent discussion has been that science sometimes provides explanations (rather than “mere description”) and that the task of a “theory” or “model” of scientific explanation is to characterize the structure of such explanations. It is thus assumed that there is a single kind or form of explanation that is “scientific”. In fact, the notion of “scientific explanation” suggests a contrast between those “explanations” that are characteristic of “science” and those explanations that are not, and, second, a contrast between “explanation” and something else. However, the tendency in much of the recent philosophical literature has been to assume that there is a substantial continuity between the sorts of explanations found in science and at least some forms of explanation found in more ordinary non-scientific contexts, with the latter embodying in a more or less inchoate way features that are present in a more detailed, precise, rigorous etc. form in the former. It is further assumed that it is the task of a theory of explanation to capture what is common to both scientific and at least some more ordinary forms of explanation.^[3]

A notable theory of scientific explanation in Hempel’s Deductive-nomological model. This model has been widely criticized but it is still the starting point for discussion of most theories of explanation.

Explanations vs. arguments[edit]

The difference between explanations and arguments reflects a difference in the kind of question that arises. In the case of arguments, we start from a doubted fact, which we try to support by arguments. In the case of explanations, we start with an accepted fact, the question being why is this fact or what caused it. The answer here is the explanation.^[4]

For instance, if Fred and Joe address the issue of whether or not Fred’s cat has fleas, Joe may state: «Fred, your cat has fleas. Observe the cat is scratching right now.» Joe has made an argument that the cat has fleas. However, if Fred and Joe agree on the fact that the cat has fleas, they may further question why this is so and put forth an explanation: «The reason the cat has fleas is that the weather has been damp.» The difference is that the attempt is not to settle whether or not some claim is true, but to show why it is true. In this sense, arguments aim to contribute knowledge, whereas explanations aim to contribute understanding.^{[citation needed]}

While arguments attempt to show that something is, will be, or should be the case, explanations try to show why or how something is or will be. If Fred and Joe address the issue of whether or not Fred’s cat has fleas, Joe may state: «Fred, your cat has fleas. Observe the cat is scratching right now.» Joe has made an argument that the cat has fleas. However, if Fred and Joe agree on the fact that the cat has fleas, they may further question why this is so and put forth an explanation: «The reason the cat has fleas is that the weather has been damp.» The difference is that the attempt is not to settle whether or not some claim is true, but to show why it is true.^{[citation needed]}

Arguments and explanations largely resemble each other in rhetorical use. This is the cause of much difficulty in thinking critically about claims. There are several reasons for this difficulty.

• People often are not themselves clear on whether they are arguing for or explaining something.
• The same types of words and phrases are used in presenting explanations and arguments.
• The terms ‘explain’ or ‘explanation,’ et cetera are frequently used in arguments.
• Explanations are often used within arguments and presented so as to serve as arguments.

Explanation vs. justification[edit]

The term explanation is sometimes used in the context of justification, e.g., the explanation as to why a belief is true. Justification may be understood as the explanation as to why a belief is a true one or an account of how one knows what one knows. It is important to be aware when an explanation is not a justification. One may give a detailed and believable account on something without giving a single proof.^{[citation needed]}

Types[edit]

There are many and varied events, objects, and facts which require explanation. So too, there are many different things that can be used to explain something. Aristotle recognized four archetypes of explanation. These were thought, since even more ancient times, to be universal and unique ‘kinds’ of explanation that comprise all ways of explaining something. However, there is much confusion about their precise definition and how they relate to each other. Types of explanation involve appropriate types of reasoning, such as Deductive-nomological, Functional, Historical, Psychological, Reductive, Teleological, Methodological explanations.^[1]

Theories of explanation[edit]

• Deductive-nomological model
• Statistical relevance model
• Causal Mechanical model
• Unificationist model^[3]
• Pragmatic theory of explanation^[3]

See also[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• Moore, Brooke Noel and Parker, Richard. (2012) Critical Thinking. 10th ed. Published by McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-803828-6.

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Media related to Explanation at Wikimedia Commons

• Explanation at PhilPapers
• Zalta, Edward N. (ed.). «Scientific Explanation». Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• «Theories of Explanation». Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
• Explanation in several languages and meanings

Last Updated:
9 Apr 2023
— Updated example sentences

He does not agree with those catechetical writers who maintain that the pastor, in his catechization, must confine himself to an explanation of _Luther’s explanation_. ❋ Joseph Stump (N/A)

The term explanation has two different meanings, in that it sometimes refers to an educative technique that precedes interpretation and is designed to help the client understand the presence and origin of developmental arrests, particularly related to separation-individuation subphase difficulties Goldstein, 1990: 148-149. ❋ EDA G. GOLDSTEIN (2001)

An attempt at a chemically based origin explanation is obvious and understandable. ❋ Unknown (2008)

The interesting thing about this explanation is that it steals the co-option explanation from the non-teleological view and shows again there is more than one way to interpret the data. ❋ Unknown (2007)

However, the term explanation itself requires a bit of explanation. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I conceive that the main explanation is this: this system was devised from the standpoint of traders and consumers, but it failed to take into mind certain fundamental needs of producers. ❋ Unknown (1930)

Its only your claim that your explanation is the only explanation that needed correcting. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I think your explanation is as weak as you apparently think mine is. ❋ Unknown (2010)

Another explanation is the morally and intellectually corrupting effect that communism must have had on the hands that did all the dirty work of the regime. ❋ Unknown (2009)

And the explanation is all Hayek and the limits on information possessed by a few individuals in Congress vs. 300 million market actors. ❋ Unknown (2010)

As to black women, the explanation is also rather simple (in addition to the point of women presumably having stronger preferences): blacks tend to be poorer than whites, women tend try to marry ‘up’ in terms of status (whereas men will marry ‘down’ if beauty trumps a not-too-large status gap). ❋ Unknown (2010)

The only other explanation is the neither the House Majority Leader, his staff, President Obama, or Nancy Pelosi and her staff (all of whom have echoed this same meme) have never once spent the 12 seconds going to Google finance or the Wall Street Journal to look the number up. ❋ Unknown (2009)

This explanation is admittedly a little more shaky, but still plausible. ❋ Unknown (2009)

I fully expect this officer to be given every opportunity to explain his ehaviour and to be acquitted of any wrongdoing if his explanation is accepted. on April 11, 2009 at 12: 37 pm | Reply Rob ❋ Inspector Gadget (2009)

What other explanation is their for the fact that their brand new netbook — the Inspiron Mini 9 — has a base price of £299 (= €369) in the UK and €369 in Germany but €399 in Ireland. ❋ Unknown (2008)

There’s no proof of this, mind you, but what other explanation is there? ❋ Unknown (2007)

this [word is] not explanational ❋ Marn474 (2007)

The boy told his teacher after [bending] late, man I don’t have time to [explanate] with you my where’s and how’s of my life.
Man this lady so drunk [she gone] start explanating ❋ Nicthegreat420 (2020)

[Iam] «I still want an explanation.»
[Hym] «You’re not going to get one.»
Iam «Well… I should…»
Hym «But you won’t.»
Iam «I mean… I still think I’m wrong about something here….»
Hym «What’s there to think about? It either was what you thought it was or you were intentionally [lead astray].»
Iam «Yeah, but… *Sigh*…. They could have made this so much easier…»
Hym «I told you before and I’ll tell you again. They liked being a [hindrance]. It was a game to them and they did it because they didn’t respect you.»
Iam «That’s obvious…»
Hym «Look, it really doesn’t matter. You left it entirely up to them. They chose that outcome. All of your problems there were communication based and could have been [resolved] by a 7 word sentence. It would have taken less than han 60 seconds. They didn’t want to fix the problem. They liked that the problem bothered you so they allowed it problem to [persist].»
Iam «……..»
Hym «They should have just left us alone» ❋ Hym Iam (2022)

Person 1: why can’t we just print more money?
Person 2: [Monkey explanation]: Monkey 1 have [10 banana] and [monkey 2] have 2 banana monkey 1 rich monkey 2 poor, if tribe give monkey 2 10 banana, no rich monkey, no poor monkey, banana no value ❋ I Read Dictionaries (2021)

Guy A: Oh, this food is horrible! I hate our school meals, exclamation mark!
[Guy B]: Yeah, and it is getting worse…
Guy C (stupid): [Haha, yeah]! [Explanation mark]! ❋ NattiW (2010)

Teacher: Alright class click on the [annotate] tab and select the [algorithm] C beta alpha
Student1: what?
Student 2: click the big ass A and click the shit that looks like it says cab
Student 1 :thanks for [the nigga] explanation! ❋ Jc Fluid (2018)

Well she was [a bar] [slut], so it was my [typical]
«penetration with no explanation» ❋ Jason Jackman (2008)

Jenny: Hey! I went to the mall today! [Puppies] are funny! Want to see a movie! I’m eating [pretzels]!
Rachel: Uh, explanation point….
Jenny: I drank 9 Red [Bulls]
(other typical answers include: I’m drunk/high/just met my dream guy etc) ❋ ItsMeHiHi (2009)

their is no logical explanation to [what you said] ❋ Nelsha Moha (2015)

«Did you hear about that caucasion explanation [that happened] last night in my [dorm]? »
«Yeah that sounded [hot as fuck]!» ❋ BEPOPEBO (2021)

Britannica Dictionary definition of EXPLANATION

• 1
  explanation
  
  

  explanation [ˏekspləˊneɪʃn]

  n

  1) объясне́ние, разъясне́ние

  2) толкова́ние

  3) оправда́ние

  Англо-русский словарь Мюллера > explanation

• 2
  explanation
  
  

  Персональный Сократ > explanation

• 3
  explanation
  
  

  1. n объяснение; пояснение; разъяснение

  2. n объяснение, разговор, выяснение отношений

  3. n объяснение, оправдание

  4. n толкование, истолкование

  Синонимический ряд:

  1. definition (noun) clarification; construal; construction; definition; description; elucidation; exegesis; explaining; explication; expose; exposition; illumination; narration

  2. rationalisation (noun) account; accounting; answer; excuse; interpretation; justification; key; meaning; rationale; rationalisation; rationalization; reason; solution

  Антонимический ряд:

  misinterpretation; mystification; problem; question

  English-Russian base dictionary > explanation

• 4
  explanation
  
  

  English-Russian combinatory dictionary > explanation

• 5
  explanation
  
  

  [͵ekspləʹneıʃ(ə)n]

  1. 1) объяснение; пояснение; разъяснение

  by way of explanation — в пояснение, для ясности

  it needs no explanation that… — нет нужды пояснять, что…

  2) объяснение, разговор, выяснение отношений

  they had an explanation — они объяснились между собой, между ними произошло объяснение

  2. объяснение, оправдание

  an explanation of their delay was demanded — от них потребовали объяснения причин задержки

  3. толкование, истолкование

  НБАРС > explanation

• 6
  explanation
  
  

  ˌekspləˈneɪʃən сущ.
  1) а) пояснение, разъяснение( for) (факт, довод) to give, offer, provide an explanation ≈ объяснять to accept an explanation ≈ принимать объяснение lucid explanation ≈ понятное объяснение rational explanation ≈ логичное объяснение satisfactory explanation ≈ приемлемое объяснение simple explanation ≈ простое объяснение unsatisfactory explanation ≈ неудовлетворительное/невнятное объяснение Syn: elucidation, interpretation, clarification б) объяснение (процесс, в ходе которого даются пояснения)
  2) а) истолкование, трактовка Syn: annotation, commentary, definition, description, exposition, interpretation б) редк. взаимопонимание I came to an immediate explanation with your father on the subject. ≈ Мы быстро пришли к обоюдному взаимопониманию с вашим отцом по данному вопросу.
  3) реабилитация, оправдание
  объяснение;
  пояснение;
  разъяснение — the * of difficulties разъяснение трудностей — after repeated *s после неоднократных объяснений — by way of * в пояснение, для ясности — he said a few words by way of * он коротко пояснил свою мысль — it needs no * that… нет нужды пояснять, что… объяснение, разговор, выяснение отношений — they had an * они объяснились между собой, между ними произошло объяснение объяснение, оправдание — legal * юридическое обоснование — satisfactory * удовлетворительное объяснение — in * of his conduct в оправдание своего поведения — an * of their delay was demanded от них потребовали объяснения причин задержки толкование, истолкование — differing *s разные толкования — the * proved to be erroneous толкование оказалось ошибочным
  explanation объяснение, разъяснение ~ объяснение ~ оправдание ~ пояснение ~ разъяснение ~ толкование, истолкование ~ толкование

  Большой англо-русский и русско-английский словарь > explanation

• 7
  explanation
  
  

  Politics english-russian dictionary > explanation

• 8
  explanation
  
  

  сущ.

  а)

  общ.

  разъяснение, пояснение

  There’s probably a perfectly simple explanation for all this. — Этому, вероятно, есть совершенно простое объяснение.

  See:

  2)

  общ.

  объяснение, выяснение отношений

  Англо-русский экономический словарь > explanation

• 9
  explanation
  
  

  n

  1) объяснение; пояснение, разъяснение

  2) объяснение, оправдание

  •

  — call upon smb. for an explanation of vote

  English-russian dctionary of diplomacy > explanation

• 10
  explanation
  
  

  [ˌeksplə’neɪʃ(ə)n]

  сущ.

  1)

  а) пояснение, разъяснение

  to give / offer / provide an explanation for smth. — давать объяснение чему-л.

  Syn:

  б) объяснение

  2) истолкование, трактовка

  Syn:

  3) реабилитация, оправдание

  Англо-русский современный словарь > explanation

• 11
  explanation
  
  

  [ˌekspləˈneɪʃən]

  explanation объяснение, разъяснение explanation объяснение explanation оправдание explanation пояснение explanation разъяснение explanation толкование, истолкование explanation толкование

  English-Russian short dictionary > explanation

• 12
  explanation
  
  

  1. объяснение, разъяснение;

  2. объяснение, оправдание;

  explanation, legal — юридическое обоснование;

  3. толкование; выявление взаимосвязей в научном исследовании;

  explanation theory — объяснительная теория.

  * * *

  сущ.

  1) объяснение, разъяснение;

  2) объяснение, оправдание;

  3) толкование; выявление взаимосвязей в научном исследовании;

  Англо-русский словарь по социологии > explanation

• 13
  explanation
  
  

  Англо-русский синонимический словарь > explanation

• 14
  explanation
  
  

  1) объяснение; пояснение

  2) разъяснение; толкование

  •

  English-Russian scientific dictionary > explanation

• 15
  explanation
  
  

  English-Russian dictionary on nuclear energy > explanation

• 16
  explanation
  
  

  English-russian biological dictionary > explanation

• 17
  explanation
  
  

  English-Russian electronics dictionary > explanation

• 18
  explanation
  
  

  The New English-Russian Dictionary of Radio-electronics > explanation

• 19
  explanation
  
  

  English-Russian dictionary of mechanical engineering and automation > explanation

• 20
  explanation
  
  

  English-Russian big medical dictionary > explanation