Single Idea 6754

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

Full Idea

We talk both of 'people' explaining things, and of 'facts' explaining things.

Gist of Idea

We talk both of 'people' explaining things, and of 'facts' explaining things

Source

Alexander Bird (Philosophy of Science [1998], Ch.2)

Book Reference

Bird,Alexander: 'Philosophy of Science' [UCL Press 2000], p.66


A Reaction

An important point, and it is the job of philosophers to pull the two apart. How we talk does not necessarily show how it is. The concept of explanation is irrelevant in a universe containing no minds, or one containing only God. People seek the facts.