Single Idea 16806

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / b. Aims of explanation]

Full Idea

The question about explanation can be put this way: What has to be added to knowledge to yield understanding?

Gist of Idea

An explanation is what is added to knowledge to yield understanding

Source

Peter Lipton (Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd) [2004], 02 'Underst')

Book Reference

Lipton,Peter: 'Inference to the Best Explanation (2nd ed)' [Routledge 2004], p.20


A Reaction

In the spirit of Aristotle, I take 'understanding' to be the end of all enquiry, even if it's rather open-ended, relative and vague. Presumably there are lots of true explanations which don't deliver understanding, because baffling ingredients are cited.

Related Idea

Idea 15559 Does a good explanation produce understanding? That claim is just empty [Lewis]