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Single Idea 24213

[catalogued under 14. Science / D. Explanation / 2. Types of Explanation / g. Causal explanations]

Full Idea

Every intelligible explanation is a matter of understanding how one thing changes into another.

Gist of Idea

Explanations always concern how one thing changes into another

Source

Simone Weil (Lect 2: Discovery of Mind [1933], p.111)

A Reaction

That seems tantamount to saying that all explanations are causal. But there also seem to be structural or situational explanations, and explanations of why a thing fails to change into another.

Book Reference

Weil,Simone: 'Lectures on Philosophy' [CUP 1978], p.111