back to ideas for this text


Single Idea 14368

[from 'No Understanding without Explanation' by Michael Strevens, in 11. Knowledge Aims / A. Knowledge / 2. Understanding ]

Full Idea

'Understanding why' is quite separate from 'understanding that': you might be exquisitely, incandescently aware of the cat's being on the mat without having the slightest clue how it got there. My topic is understanding why.

Gist of Idea

We may 'understand that' the cat is on the mat, but not at all 'understand why' it is there

Source

Michael Strevens (No Understanding without Explanation [2011], 2)


A Reaction

Can't we separate 'understand how' from 'understand why'? I may know that someone dropped a cat through my letterbox, but more understanding would still be required. (He later adds understanding 'with' a theory).