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Full Idea
Objects or events in the world must really stand in some appropriate 'structural' relation before explanation is possible.
Gist of Idea
An explanation needs the world to have an appropriate structure
Source
David-Hillel Ruben (Explaining Explanation [1990], Ch 7)
Book Ref
Ruben,David-Hillel: 'Explaining Explanation' [Routledge 1990], p.210
A Reaction
An important point. These days people talk of 'dependence relations'. Some sort of structure to reality (mainly imposed by the direction of time and causation, I would have thought) is a prerequisite of finding a direction to explanation.
| 17082 | Paradox: why do you analyse if you know it, and how do you analyse if you don't? [Ruben] |
| 17081 | Usually explanations just involve giving information, with no reference to the act of explanation [Ruben] |
| 17087 | The 'symmetry thesis' says explanation and prediction only differ pragmatically [Ruben] |
| 17088 | Reducing one science to another is often said to be the perfect explanation [Ruben] |
| 17089 | Facts explain facts, but only if they are conceptualised or named appropriately [Ruben] |
| 17090 | Most explanations are just sentences, not arguments [Ruben] |
| 17094 | The causal theory of explanation neglects determinations which are not causal [Ruben] |
| 17092 | An explanation needs the world to have an appropriate structure [Ruben] |