Explanation

Explanation

An explanation is a description which may clarify causes, , and consequences of a certain object, and a phenomenon such as a process, a state of affairs. This description may establish rules or laws, and may clarify the existing ones in relation to an object, and a phenomenon examined. The components of an explanation can be implicit, and be interwoven with one another.

An explanation is often underpinned by an understanding that is represented by different media such as music, text, and graphics. Thus, an explanation is subjected to interpretation, and discussion.

In scientific research, explanation is one of the purposes of research, e.g.,exploration and description. Explanation is a way to uncover new knowledge,and to report relationships among different aspects of studied phenomena.

Some types of explanations are:

* Deductive-nomological
* Functional
* Historical
* Psychological
* Reductive
* Teleological
* Methodological

ee also

* Abductive reasoning
* Cogency
* Epistemology
* Explanandum and Explanans
* Inductive reasoning
* Inquiry
* Knowledge
* Scientific method
* Unexplained
* Rationalization

External links

* [http://www.iep.utm.edu/e/explanat.htm Explanat] at The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
* [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/scientific-explanation/ Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy entry on Scientific Explanation]


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  • Explanation — Ex pla*na tion, n. [L. explanatio: cf. OF. esplanation.] 1. The act of explaining, expounding, or interpreting; the act of clearing from obscurity and making intelligible; as, the explanation of a passage in Scripture, or of a contract or treaty …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Explanation — (lat.), Erklärung, Erläuterung, Auslegung; explanatīv, erläuternd; explanieren, auslegen …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Explanation — Explanation, lat. dtsch., Erklärung; explanativ, erklärend; explaniren, erklären …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • explanation — I noun amplification, annotation, clarification, commentary, deciphering, defense, definition, delineation, demonstration, description, elucidation, enucleation, exegesis, exemplification, explanatio, explicatio, explication, exposition,… …   Law dictionary

  • explanation — (n.) late 14c., from L. explanationem (nom. explanatio), noun of action from pp. stem of explanare to make plain or clear, explain, lit. make level, flatten, from ex out (see EX (Cf. ex )) + planus flat (see PLANE (Cf. plane) (n …   Etymology dictionary

  • explanation — [n] clarification; reason account, annotation, answer, breakdown, brief, cause, comment, commentary, confession, definition, demonstration, description, details, display, elucidation, evidence, example, excuse, explication, exposition, expression …   New thesaurus

  • explanation — [eks΄plə nā′shən] n. [ME explanacioun < L explanatio < pp. of explanare] 1. the act of explaining 2. something that explains 3. the interpretation, meaning, or sense given in explaining 4. a mutual defining of terms, declaration of motives …   English World dictionary

  • explanation — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ convincing, credible, good, likely, logical, natural, obvious, plausible, probable, rational ▪ …   Collocations dictionary

  • explanation — n. 1) to give, offer, provide an explanation 2) to accept an explanation 3) a lucid; rational; satisfactory; simple; unsatisfactory explanation 4) an explanation for 5) an explanation that + clause (they accepted her explanation that she had been …   Combinatory dictionary

  • explanation */*/*/ — UK [ˌekspləˈneɪʃ(ə)n] / US noun [countable/uncountable] Word forms explanation : singular explanation plural explanations 1) a reason you give for something that has happened or something you have done I expected an explanation and an apology.… …   English dictionary

  • explanation — [[t]e̱kspləne͟ɪʃ(ə)n[/t]] ♦♦♦ explanations 1) N COUNT: also of/in N If you give an explanation of something that has happened, you give people reasons for it, especially in an attempt to justify it. She told the court she would give a full… …   English dictionary

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