An explanation is a set of statements In logic a statement is a declarative sentence that is either true or false. A statement is distinct from a sentence in that a sentence is only one formulation of a statement, whereas there may be many other formulations expressing the same statement. The term "statement" may to refer to a sentence or the idea expressed by a sentence constructed to describe Description is one of four rhetorical modes , along with exposition, argumentation, and narration. Each of the rhetorical modes is present in a variety of forms and each has its own purpose and conventions a set of facts which clarifies the causes Causality is the relationship between an event and a second event (the effect), where the second event is a consequence of the first, context, and consequences of those facts.
This description may establish rules In logic, a transformation rule is a syntactic rule used in a formal system which may be interpreted as a valid rule of inference for constructing true propositions. Rules of inference, along with any axioms or axiom schemata it uses to derive valid formulas, comprise the deductive system of the formal system or laws In traditional logic, an axiom or postulate is a proposition that is not proved or demonstrated but considered to be either self-evident, or subject to necessary decision. Therefore, its truth is taken for granted, and serves as a starting point for deducing and inferring other truths, and may clarify the existing ones in relation to any objects, or phenomena examined. The components of an explanation can be implicit, and be interwoven with one another.
An explanation is often underpinned by an understanding Understanding is a psychological process related to an abstract or physical object, such as a person, situation, or message whereby one is able to think about it and use concepts to deal adequately with that object that is represented by different media such as music, text, and graphics. Thus, an explanation is subjected to interpretation An interpretation is an assignment of meaning to the symbols of a language. Many formal languages used in mathematics, logic, and theoretical computer science are defined in solely syntactic terms, and as such do not have any meaning until they are given some interpretation. The general study of interpretations of formal languages is called formal, and discussion.
In scientific research Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of, explanation is one of the purposes of research, e.g., exploration Exploration is the act of searching or traveling a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans. In human history, its peak is seen during the Age of Discovery for Europe's contact with the rest of the world, and Major explorations after the Age of and description. Explanation is a way to uncover new knowledge, and to report relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena A phenomenon , plural phenomena, is any observable occurrence. In popular usage, a phenomenon often refers to an extraordinary event. In scientific usage, a phenomenon is any event that is observable, however commonplace it might be, even if it requires the use of instrumentation to observe it. For example, in physics, a phenomenon may be a.
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Explanations and arguments
Main article: Argument In logic, an argument is a set of one or more meaningful declarative sentences known as the premises along with another meaningful declarative sentence (or "proposition") known as the conclusion. A deductive argument asserts that the truth of the conclusion is a logical consequence of the premises; an inductive argument asserts that theWhile 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 A proposition is a sentence expressing something true or false. In philosophy, particularly in logic, a proposition is identified ontologically as an idea, concept, or abstraction whose token instances are patterns of symbols, marks, sounds, or strings of words. Propositions are considered to be syntactic entities and also truthbearers is true, it is to show why it is true.
In this sense, arguments aim to contribute knowledge, whereas explanations aim to contribute understanding.
Arguments and explanations largely resemble each other in rhetorical Rhetoric is the art of using language to communicate effectively. It involves three audience appeals: logos, pathos, and ethos, as well as the five canons of rhetoric: invention or discovery, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery. Along with grammar and logic or dialectic, rhetoric is one of the three ancient arts of discourse. From ancient use. This is the cause of much difficulty in thinking critically Critical thinking, in its broadest sense, has been described as "purposeful reflective judgment concerning what to believe or what to do." The list of core critical thinking skills, as identified by Ennis, Swartz, Paul, Halpern, Fisher, Wade, Scriven, Boyd, Chafee, Gittens, Moore, Browne, Parker, White, Keely, Facione an many others about claims In logic and philosophy, the term proposition refers to both (a) the "content" or "meaning" of a meaningful declarative sentence or (b) the pattern of symbols, marks, or sounds that make up a meaningful declarative sentence. The meaning of a proposition includes that it has the quality or property of being either true or false,. 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.
Explanations and justification
Main article: JustificationJustification is the reason why someone properly holds a belief Belief is the psychological state in which an individual holds a proposition or premise to be true, the explanation as to why the belief is a true one, or an account of how one knows what one knows. In much the same way arguments and explanations may be confused with each other, so too may explanations and justifications. Statements which are justifications of some action take the form of arguments. For example attempts to justify a theft usually explain the motives (e.g., to feed a starving family).
It is important to be aware when an explanation is not a justification. A criminal profiler may offer an explanation of a suspect's behavior (e.g.; the person lost their job, the person got evicted, etc.). Such statements may help us understand why the person committed the crime, however an uncritical listener may believe the speaker is trying to gain sympathy for the person and his or her actions. It does not follow that a person proposing an explanation has any sympathy for the views or actions being explained. This is an important distinction because we need to be able to understand and explain terrible events and behavior in attempting to discourage it.
Types of explanations
There are many and varied events, objects, and facts which require explanation. So too, there are many different types of explanation. Among the various types of explanation are Deductive-nomological The deductive-nomological model is a formalized view of scientific explanation in natural language. It characterizes scientific explanations primarily as deductive arguments with at least one natural law statement among its premises. "Nomological" comes from the Greek word "νόμος" (nomos), i.e., "law.", Functional, Historical, Psychological, Reductive, Teleological, Methodological explanations.
Physical explanations
Behavioral explanations
Functional explanations
Sources
- Critical Thinking, Parker and Moore.
See also
- Abductive reasoning Abduction is a method of logical inference introduced by Charles Sanders Peirce which comes prior to induction and deduction for which the colloquial name is to have a "hunch". Abductive reasoning starts when an inquirer considers of a set of seemingly unrelated facts, armed with an intuition that they are somehow connected. The term
- Cogency
- Epistemology Epistemology or theory of knowledge is the branch of philosophy concerned with the nature and scope (limitations) of knowledge. It addresses the questions:
- Explanans Explanandum and explanans are two forms of the same Latin word. The explanans is the participle and means: 'flattening out' or 'making plain'; The explanandum is the grammatical object and refers to that which might undergo a 'flattening out' or a 'making plain'
- Inductive reasoning Inductive reasoning, also known as induction or inductive logic, is a type of reasoning that involves moving from a set of specific facts to a general conclusion. It uses premises from objects that have been examined to establish a conclusion about an object that has not been examined. It can also be seen as a form of theory-building, in which
- Inquiry An inquiry is any process that has the aim of augmenting knowledge, resolving doubt, or solving a problem. A theory of inquiry is an account of the various types of inquiry and a treatment of the ways that each type of inquiry achieves its aim
- Knowledge Knowledge is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as expertise, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject; (ii) what is known in a particular field or in total; facts and information; or (iii) awareness or familiarity gained by experience of a fact or situation
- Scientific method Scientific method refers to a body of techniques for investigating phenomena, acquiring new knowledge, or correcting and integrating previous knowledge. To be termed scientific, a method of inquiry must be based on gathering observable, empirical and measurable evidence subject to specific principles of reasoning. A scientific method consists of
- Unexplained
- Rationalization
- Theory In philosophy, theory refers to contemplation or speculation, as opposed to action. Theory is especially often contrasted to "practice" (Greek praxis, πρᾶξις) which is a concept that in its original Aristotelian context referred to actions done for their own sake. The other type of actions are those "technical" ones done
- Wesley Salmon
External links
- Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Scientific Explanation
- Explanation in several languages and meanings
Categories: Critical thinking | Philosophical terminology
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Minneapolis Star Tribune
But that explanation doesn't fit what a Star Tribune reporter saw and heard before the pair left. Directly in front of the reporter in the crowded chamber, ...
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My dear friend Aphyd sent me this as a response to a futile question and I thought it was too good to let go Additionally someone drugged a spider to see what the webs looked like Cool pics see here
arbroath
Sun, 04 Apr 2010 06:13:00 GM
An . explanation. of the new YouTube layout. Incidentally, you can turn off those annoying annotations, by putting your cursor over the triangle at the bottom right-hand side of the YouTube screen after the video has started, then click on ...
Q. There must be a psychological explanation as to why people make lists. Is there some relation to how the brain functions or processes things on lists? By this, I mean a specific theory or concept in Psychology if any exists.
Asked by angel - Sat Apr 10 05:26:49 2010 - - 3 Answers - 0 Comments
A. I am not a psychologist, but I did take classes in High School and College. I think it has to do with our desire to make order and structure in things. Some people cannot function or be able to make sense of things unless there is order and structure there. It makes it easier to weed out the gray-matter. Another possibility for some people is that they need to have somehow to be able to keep focused. If they have a list, they can work on that and not continue to add too the list and eventually have too much to handle. Once again, it gives us structure and keeps us focused. ...Kind of like breakfast... :D
Answered by kcook_con - Sat Apr 10 05:32:22 2010
