SecularFuture

1) How would you define an explanation?
2) What makes an explanation valid?
(what qualifies an explanation?)

Hugo Holbling

Take a look here.

Dominus Paradoxum

My 0.02 cents:

A explains B in the strong sense iff A renders it necessary that B.

A explains B in the weak sense if without A, B would not occur.

What makes the strong kind of explanation valid is the relation of necessity that obtains between A and B. Since B must occur if A occurs, A is metaphysically sufficent for B and thus explains it. What makes the weak kind of explanation valid is the relation of counterfactual dependency between A and B. Of course in this case, A is not sufficent for B, hence the term weak explanation.

Bob Stewart

What kind of explanation are you asking about?

Bob Stewart

SecularFuture

"Theories of Explanation"
Wow! Thank you a lot for the link.

SecularFuture

Complicated... :banghead:
But very interesting.

I'll have to take some time out to think about what you explained.

SecularFuture

I've been talking with some people who "believe" that they are explaining things when really (in my opinion) they're not. I was just wondering what warrants an explanation. What does an explanation require to be classified as an explanation.

SlateGreySky

Wow, thanks to SecularFuture for a great question, and thanks to Hugo for a great link.

GrandDesigner

An explanation is the use of many words, pictures, smells, etc. to convey the idea of fewer words, pictures, smells, etc., or vice versa in the hopes that the topic/idea is translated to others. It can also be a definition of a word, picture, smell, etc., or few words, pictures, smells, etc. It can also be an excuse.

One's faith or belief that the words, pictures, smells, etc., used to translate a topic/idea, a definition, or an excuse are true to thyself.


For example. I can explain to you, till I'm blue-in-the-face, that I exist.

It takes your faith or belief in what I tell you or in what you see with your eyes or what you smell, excuse me, with your nose etc. to make it valid to yourself. And just because that may not be valid enough for you, it may be valid enough to someone else or to noone at all.

Grand Ol Designer