Single Idea 11243

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 1. Explanation / a. Explanation]

Full Idea

For Aristotle things which explain (the explanantia) are facts, which should not be associated with the modern view that says explanations are dependent on how we conceive and describe the world (where causes are independent of us).

Gist of Idea

Aristotelian explanations are facts, while modern explanations depend on human conceptions

Source

report of Aristotle (works [c.330 BCE]) by Vassilis Politis - Aristotle and the Metaphysics 2.1

Book Reference

Politis,Vasilis: 'Aristotle and the Metaphysics' [Routledge 2004], p.27


A Reaction

There must be some room in modern thought for the Aristotelian view, if some sort of robust scientific realism is being maintained against the highly linguistic view of philosophy found in the twentieth century.

Related Idea

Idea 9067 Many memories of the same item form a single experience [Aristotle]