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href="#Explanations_vs._arguments"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">2</span> <span>Explanations vs. arguments</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Explanations_vs._arguments-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Explanation_vs._justification" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Explanation_vs._justification"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">3</span> <span>Explanation vs. justification</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Explanation_vs._justification-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Types" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Types"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">4</span> <span>Types</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Types-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Theories_of_explanation" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Theories_of_explanation"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">5</span> <span>Theories of explanation</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Theories_of_explanation-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-See_also" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#See_also"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">6</span> <span>See also</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-See_also-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Further_reading" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Further_reading"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">7</span> <span>Further reading</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Further_reading-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-References" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#References"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">8</span> <span>References</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-References-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-External_links" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-1 vector-toc-list-item-expanded"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#External_links"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">9</span> <span>External links</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-External_links-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > 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Available in 35 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-35" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">35 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1" title="تفسير – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="تفسير" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9E%D0%B1%D1%8F%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5" title="Обяснение – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Обяснение" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explicaci%C3%B3" title="Explicació – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Explicació" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-de mw-list-item"><a href="https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erkl%C3%A4rung" title="Erklärung – German" lang="de" hreflang="de" data-title="Erklärung" data-language-autonym="Deutsch" data-language-local-name="German" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Deutsch</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seletus" title="Seletus – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Seletus" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explicaci%C3%B3n" title="Explicación – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Explicación" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D8%A8%DB%8C%DB%8C%D9%86" title="تبیین – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="تبیین" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explication" title="Explication – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Explication" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-gl mw-list-item"><a href="https://gl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explicaci%C3%B3n" title="Explicación – Galician" lang="gl" hreflang="gl" data-title="Explicación" data-language-autonym="Galego" data-language-local-name="Galician" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Galego</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%84%A4%EB%AA%85" title="설명 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="설명" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%B2%D5%A1%D6%81%D5%A1%D5%BF%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6_(%D6%83%D5%AB%D5%AC%D5%AB%D5%BD%D5%B8%D6%83%D5%A1%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%A9%D5%B5%D5%B8%D6%82%D5%B6)" title="Բացատրություն (փիլիսոփայություն) – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Բացատրություն (փիլիսոփայություն)" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zu mw-list-item"><a href="https://zu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Incazelo" title="Incazelo – Zulu" lang="zu" hreflang="zu" data-title="Incazelo" data-language-autonym="IsiZulu" data-language-local-name="Zulu" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>IsiZulu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiegazione" title="Spiegazione – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Spiegazione" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%A1%D7%91%D7%A8" title="הסבר – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="הסבר" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-kn mw-list-item"><a href="https://kn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%BF%E0%B2%B5%E0%B2%B0%E0%B2%A3%E0%B3%86" title="ವಿವರಣೆ – Kannada" lang="kn" hreflang="kn" data-title="ವಿವರಣೆ" data-language-autonym="ಕನ್ನಡ" data-language-local-name="Kannada" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ಕನ್ನಡ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paai%C5%A1kinimas" title="Paaiškinimas – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Paaiškinimas" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verklaring_(wetenschap)" title="Verklaring (wetenschap) – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Verklaring (wetenschap)" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%AA%AC%E6%98%8E" title="説明 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="説明" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-no mw-list-item"><a href="https://no.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forklaring" title="Forklaring – Norwegian Bokmål" lang="nb" hreflang="nb" data-title="Forklaring" data-language-autonym="Norsk bokmål" data-language-local-name="Norwegian Bokmål" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Norsk bokmål</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps mw-list-item"><a href="https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86" title="بیان – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps" data-title="بیان" data-language-autonym="پښتو" data-language-local-name="Pashto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پښتو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyja%C5%9Bnianie" title="Wyjaśnianie – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Wyjaśnianie" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9E%D0%B1%D1%8A%D1%8F%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B5" title="Объяснение – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Объяснение" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-si mw-list-item"><a href="https://si.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B7%80%E0%B7%92%E0%B7%80%E0%B6%BB%E0%B6%AB%E0%B6%BA" title="විවරණය – Sinhala" lang="si" hreflang="si" data-title="විවරණය" data-language-autonym="සිංහල" data-language-local-name="Sinhala" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>සිංහල</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-simple mw-list-item"><a href="https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explanation" title="Explanation – Simple English" lang="en-simple" hreflang="en-simple" data-title="Explanation" data-language-autonym="Simple English" data-language-local-name="Simple English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Simple English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sd mw-list-item"><a href="https://sd.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AA%D9%81%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%B1" title="تفسير – Sindhi" lang="sd" hreflang="sd" data-title="تفسير" data-language-autonym="سنڌي" data-language-local-name="Sindhi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>سنڌي</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vysvetlenie" title="Vysvetlenie – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Vysvetlenie" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ckb mw-list-item"><a href="https://ckb.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%95%D9%88%D9%88%D9%86%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%95%D9%88%DB%95" title="ڕوونکردنەوە – Central Kurdish" lang="ckb" hreflang="ckb" data-title="ڕوونکردنەوە" data-language-autonym="کوردی" data-language-local-name="Central Kurdish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>کوردی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9E%D0%B1%D1%98%D0%B0%D1%88%D1%9A%D0%B5%D1%9A%D0%B5" title="Објашњење – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Објашњење" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selitt%C3%A4minen" title="Selittäminen – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Selittäminen" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tg mw-list-item"><a href="https://tg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%B0%D1%91%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%82_(%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%B8_%D2%B3%D1%83%D2%9B%D1%83%D2%9B%D3%A3)" title="Баёнот (санади ҳуқуқӣ) – Tajik" lang="tg" hreflang="tg" data-title="Баёнот (санади ҳуқуқӣ)" data-language-autonym="Тоҷикӣ" data-language-local-name="Tajik" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Тоҷикӣ</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-tr mw-list-item"><a href="https://tr.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7%C4%B1klama" title="Açıklama – Turkish" lang="tr" hreflang="tr" data-title="Açıklama" data-language-autonym="Türkçe" data-language-local-name="Turkish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Türkçe</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uk mw-list-item"><a href="https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D1%8F%D1%81%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8F" title="Пояснення – Ukrainian" lang="uk" hreflang="uk" data-title="Пояснення" data-language-autonym="Українська" data-language-local-name="Ukrainian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Українська</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh-yue mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh-yue.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A7%A3%E9%87%8B" title="解釋 – Cantonese" lang="yue" hreflang="yue" data-title="解釋" data-language-autonym="粵語" data-language-local-name="Cantonese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>粵語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-diq mw-list-item"><a href="https://diq.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arezekerd%C4%B1%C5%9F" title="Arezekerdış – Zazaki" lang="diq" hreflang="diq" data-title="Arezekerdış" data-language-autonym="Zazaki" data-language-local-name="Zazaki" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Zazaki</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-zh mw-list-item"><a href="https://zh.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%A7%A3%E9%87%8B" title="解釋 – Chinese" lang="zh" hreflang="zh" data-title="解釋" data-language-autonym="中文" data-language-local-name="Chinese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>中文</span></a></li> </ul> <div class="after-portlet after-portlet-lang"><span class="wb-langlinks-edit wb-langlinks-link"><a href="https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Special:EntityPage/Q7958#sitelinks-wikipedia" title="Edit interlanguage links" class="wbc-editpage">Edit links</a></span></div> </div> 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dir="ltr"><div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none">Set of statements constructed to describe a set of facts which clarifies causes</div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1236090951">.mw-parser-output .hatnote{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output div.hatnote{padding-left:1.6em;margin-bottom:0.5em}.mw-parser-output .hatnote i{font-style:normal}.mw-parser-output .hatnote+link+.hatnote{margin-top:-0.5em}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .hatnote{display:none!important}}</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the poem by Wallace Stevens, see <a href="/wiki/Explanation_(poem)" title="Explanation (poem)">Explanation (poem)</a>.</div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">"Explained" redirects here. For the documentary television series, see <a href="/wiki/Explained_(TV_series)" title="Explained (TV series)">Explained (TV series)</a>.</div> <p>An <b>explanation</b> is a set of <a href="/wiki/Statement_(logic)" title="Statement (logic)">statements</a> usually constructed to <a href="/wiki/Description" title="Description">describe</a> a set of facts that clarifies the <a href="/wiki/Causality" title="Causality">causes</a>, <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/context" class="extiw" title="wiktionary:context">context</a>, and <a href="/wiki/Logical_consequence" title="Logical consequence">consequences</a> of those facts. It may establish <a href="/wiki/Rule_of_inference" title="Rule of inference">rules</a> or <a href="/wiki/Axiom" title="Axiom">laws</a>, and clarifies the existing rules or laws in relation to any objects or phenomena examined.<sup id="cite_ref-Logic_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Logic-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>In philosophy, an explanation is a set of statements that renders understandable the existence or occurrence of an object, event, or state of affairs. Among its most common forms are: </p> <ul><li>Causal explanation</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deductive-nomological" class="mw-redirect" title="Deductive-nomological">Deductive-nomological</a> explanation, involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization from which it may be derived in a deductive argument. For example, “All gases expand when heated; this gas was heated; therefore, this gas expanded".</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wesley_C._Salmon#Relevance/specificity" title="Wesley C. Salmon">Statistical explanation</a>, involves subsuming the explanandum under a generalization that gives it inductive support. For example, “Most people who use tobacco contract cancer; this person used tobacco; therefore, this person contracted cancer”.</li></ul> <p>Explanations of human behavior usually rely to the subject’s beliefs, desires and other relevant facts. They operate under the assumption that the behavior in question is rational to some extent. Thus an explanation of why the subject removed his coat might cite the fact that he felt hot and desired to feel cooler, and believed that he would feel cooler if he took off his coat.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Scientific_explanation">Scientific explanation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Scientific explanation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The recent discussions presuppose that science offers explanations (rather than mere description) and that the task of a theory or model of scientific explanation is to outline 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 which are outside the science, and second a contrast between "explanation" and something else. </p><p>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.<sup id="cite_ref-SEP_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SEP-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>A notable theory of scientific explanation is Hempel's <a href="/wiki/Deductive-nomological_model" title="Deductive-nomological model">Deductive-nomological model</a>. This model has been widely criticized<sup class="noprint Inline-Template" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style/Words_to_watch#Unsupported_attributions" title="Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Words to watch"><span title="The material near this tag may use weasel words or too-vague attribution. (September 2023)">by whom?</span></a></i>]</sup> but it is still the starting point for discussion of most theories of explanation. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Explanations_vs._arguments">Explanations vs. arguments</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Explanations vs. arguments"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1236090951"><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">Main article: <a href="/wiki/Argument" title="Argument">Argument</a></div> <p>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.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p><p>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.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>While arguments attempt to show that something is, will be, or should be the case, explanations try to show <i>why</i> or <i>how</i> something is or will be. If Fred and Joe address the issue of <i>whether</i> 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 <i>argument that</i> the cat has fleas. However, if Fred and Joe agree on the fact that the cat has fleas, they may further question <i>why</i> this is so and put forth an <i>explanation</i>: "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 <a href="/wiki/Claim_(logic)" class="mw-redirect" title="Claim (logic)">claim</a> is true, but to show <i>why</i> it is true.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p><p>Arguments and explanations largely resemble each other in <a href="/wiki/Rhetoric" title="Rhetoric">rhetorical</a> use. This is the cause of much difficulty in <a href="/wiki/Critical_thinking" title="Critical thinking">thinking critically</a> about <a href="/wiki/Proposition" title="Proposition">claims</a>. There are several reasons for this difficulty. </p> <ul><li>People often are not themselves clear on whether they are arguing for or explaining something.</li> <li>The same types of words and phrases are used in presenting explanations and arguments.</li> <li>The terms 'explain' or 'explanation,' et cetera are frequently used in arguments.</li> <li>Explanations are often used within arguments and presented so as to serve <i>as arguments</i>.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Explanation_vs._justification">Explanation vs. justification</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Explanation vs. justification"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>The term explanation is sometimes used in the context of <a href="/wiki/Theory_of_justification" class="mw-redirect" title="Theory of justification">justification</a>, e.g., the explanation as to why a <a href="/wiki/Belief" title="Belief">belief</a> 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.<sup class="noprint Inline-Template Template-Fact" style="white-space:nowrap;">[<i><a href="/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed" title="Wikipedia:Citation needed"><span title="This claim needs references to reliable sources. (August 2020)">citation needed</span></a></i>]</sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Types">Types</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: Types"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>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. <a href="/wiki/Aristotle" title="Aristotle">Aristotle</a> recognized <a href="/wiki/Four_causes" title="Four causes">four archetypes</a> 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 <a href="/wiki/Deductive-nomological_model" title="Deductive-nomological model">Deductive-nomological</a>, Functional, Historical, Psychological, Reductive, Teleological, Methodological explanations.<sup id="cite_ref-Logic_1-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Logic-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Theories_of_explanation">Theories of explanation</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: Theories of explanation"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Deductive-nomological_model" title="Deductive-nomological model">Deductive-nomological model</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wesley_C._Salmon#Relevance/specificity" title="Wesley C. Salmon">Statistical relevance model</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wesley_C._Salmon#Causal_mechanism" title="Wesley C. Salmon">Causal Mechanical model</a></li> <li>Unificationist model<sup id="cite_ref-SEP_3-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SEP-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li>Pragmatic theory of explanation<sup id="cite_ref-SEP_3-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SEP-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1184024115">.mw-parser-output .div-col{margin-top:0.3em;column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .div-col-small{font-size:90%}.mw-parser-output .div-col-rules{column-rule:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .div-col dl,.mw-parser-output .div-col ol,.mw-parser-output .div-col ul{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .div-col li,.mw-parser-output .div-col dd{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}</style><div class="div-col" style="column-width: 30em;"> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Abductive_reasoning" title="Abductive reasoning">Abductive reasoning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Epistemology" title="Epistemology">Epistemology</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Explanandum_and_explanans" title="Explanandum and explanans">Explanandum and explanans</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Explanatory_gap" title="Explanatory gap">Explanatory gap</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inductive_reasoning" title="Inductive reasoning">Inductive reasoning</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Inquiry" title="Inquiry">Inquiry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Knowledge" title="Knowledge">Knowledge</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Models_of_scientific_inquiry" title="Models of scientific inquiry">Models of scientific inquiry</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Rationalization_(making_excuses)" class="mw-redirect" title="Rationalization (making excuses)">Rationalization</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Scientific_method" title="Scientific method">Scientific method</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Theory" title="Theory">Theory</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Unexplained_(disambiguation)" class="mw-redirect mw-disambig" title="Unexplained (disambiguation)">Unexplained (disambiguation)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Wesley_Salmon" class="mw-redirect" title="Wesley Salmon">Wesley Salmon</a></li></ul> </div> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Further_reading">Further reading</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=7" title="Edit section: Further reading"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>Moore, Brooke Noel and Parker, Richard. (2012) <i>Critical Thinking</i>. 10th ed. Published by McGraw-Hill. <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/65/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}</style><a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-07-803828-6" title="Special:BookSources/0-07-803828-6">0-07-803828-6</a>.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Explanation&action=edit&section=8" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-Logic-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-Logic_1-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-Logic_1-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFDrake2018" class="citation book cs1">Drake, Jess (2018). <i>Introduction to Logic</i>. EP TECH PRESS. pp. 160–161. <a href="/wiki/ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <a href="/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-83947-421-7" title="Special:BookSources/978-1-83947-421-7"><bdi>978-1-83947-421-7</bdi></a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=book&rft.btitle=Introduction+to+Logic&rft.pages=160-161&rft.pub=EP+TECH+PRESS&rft.date=2018&rft.isbn=978-1-83947-421-7&rft.aulast=Drake&rft.aufirst=Jess&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AExplanation" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/">Explanation</a> at the <i><a href="/wiki/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica" title="Encyclopædia Britannica">Encyclopædia Britannica</a></i></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-SEP-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SEP_3-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SEP_3-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SEP_3-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFZalta" class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><a href="/wiki/Edward_N._Zalta" title="Edward N. Zalta">Zalta, Edward N.</a> (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-explanation/">"Scientific Explanation"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stanford_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy" title="Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy">Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Scientific+Explanation&rft.btitle=Stanford+Encyclopedia+of+Philosophy&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fplato.stanford.edu%2Fentries%2Fscientific-explanation%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AExplanation" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite id="CITEREFMayes2010" class="citation journal cs1">Mayes, Gregory (2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.csus.edu/indiv/m/mayesgr/Scribble/Explanation%20Stuff/ArgumentExplanationComplementarity.pdf">"Argument-Explanation Complementarity and the Structure of Informal Reasoning"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. <i>Informal Logic</i>. <b>30</b>: 92. <a href="/wiki/Doi_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="Doi (identifier)">doi</a>:<span class="id-lock-free" title="Freely accessible"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://doi.org/10.22329%2Fil.v30i1.419">10.22329/il.v30i1.419</a></span>.</cite><span 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Zalta">Zalta, Edward N.</a> (ed.). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-explanation/">"Scientific Explanation"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Stanford_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy" title="Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy">Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Scientific+Explanation&rft.btitle=Stanford+Encyclopedia+of+Philosophy&rft_id=https%3A%2F%2Fplato.stanford.edu%2Fentries%2Fscientific-explanation%2F&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AExplanation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation encyclopaedia cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/explanat">"Theories of Explanation"</a>. <i><a href="/wiki/Internet_Encyclopedia_of_Philosophy" title="Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy">Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy</a></i>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=bookitem&rft.atitle=Theories+of+Explanation&rft.btitle=Internet+Encyclopedia+of+Philosophy&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.iep.utm.edu%2Fexplanat&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AExplanation" class="Z3988"></span></li> <li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20171016024842/http://www.free-dictionary-translation.com/Explanation.html">Explanation</a> in several languages and meanings</li></ul> <div class="navbox-styles"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output 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