Single Idea 1689

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

Full Idea

There are four sorts of explanation: what it is to be something, that if certain items hold it is necessary for this to hold, what initiated the change, and the purpose.

Gist of Idea

Explanation is of the status of a thing, inferences to it, initiation of change, and purpose

Source

Aristotle (Posterior Analytics [c.327 BCE], 94a21)

Book Reference

Aristotle: 'Posterior Analytics (2nd ed)', ed/tr. Barnes,Jonathan [OUP 1993], p.59


A Reaction

This might be summed up as: 'we want to know the essence, the necessary conditions, the cause, and the purpose'. Can anyone improve on that as the aims of explanation? The second explanation (necessary preconditions) isn't in 'Physics' - Idea 8332.

Related Idea

Idea 8332 The four causes are the material, the form, the source, and the end [Aristotle]