explanation
Let an agent explain the concept of explanation and its kinds, relay philosophical, scientific and communicative perspectives from academic sources with attribution, describe how good explanations are constructed, and distinguish explanation from description, justification, excuse and the misfiled document aliases.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
written by Claude from model knowledge without web access - no source was read, every claim is a lead to verify
Researched by: Claude
Purpose and description
Let an agent explain the concept of explanation and its kinds, relay philosophical, scientific and communicative perspectives from academic sources with attribution, describe how good explanations are constructed, and distinguish explanation from description, justification, excuse and the misfiled document aliases.
A statement or set of statements that makes something clear or understandable by giving reasons, causes, context or meaning, studied in philosophy of science as the relation between explanans and explanandum, in education and communication as elucidation, and in everyday and professional contexts such as artwork descriptions; the registry aliases also list tax returns, a specific person s tax returns and hearsay, which are documents and evidence rather than explanations and appear misfiled.
What it is for: Making something understandable.
It can be explain the concept; relay perspectives; describe constructing explanations; distinguish related concepts.
Distinguishing features
Answers why or how
Explanans and explanandum
Many models
Context-dependent
What it looks like
Not a visible object; statements that clarify.
How it is recognised
Statement that makes something understandable
Causal, scientific, teleological and interpretive explanations; elucidation; artwork descriptions
Description states what is; justification defends; an excuse deflects blame; tax returns and hearsay are documents and evidence
Related models
is a kind of - in registry terms
is a kind of - in registry terms
is studied in - as models of explanation
is contrasted with - which states without explaining
In practice
Families and kinds
causal and mechanistic explanations
scientific explanations under deductive-nomological and other models
teleological and functional explanations
interpretive and historical explanations
elucidation and explanation in teaching
artwork descriptions and explanatory texts
explanation in artificial intelligence
Standards and regulation
No regulation; standards for explainable AI and plain language guidance
Failure modes and hazards
Confusing explanation with justification or excuse
Registry aliases naming documents and a named person s records
Presenting one model of explanation as the only one
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.explanation-communication
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 4 bundles · 8 layers · 8 findings · 16 questions.
Understand What an explanation is.
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
Definition
Definition.
- What is an explanation, and how does it differ from description, justification, excuse and the document aliases? definition
- Is the question about the concept, a kind of explanation or a misfiled document topic? boundary
Kinds
Kinds.
Kinds
Kinds.
- What are causal, scientific, teleological, interpretive and pedagogical explanations, and what is elucidation? definition
- Which entry fits the specific kind? action
Theory Philosophy.
Attribution.
Models
Models of explanation.
Models
Models.
- How do Hempel, Salmon, van Fraassen and others model scientific explanation, with positions attributed? provenance
- Which references are standard? provenance
Debates
Debates.
Debates
Debates.
- What debates exist about explanation versus prediction and understanding? provenance
- Which sources are cited? provenance
Practice Explaining well.
Practice.
Teaching
Teaching and communication.
Teaching
Teaching.
- How are clear explanations constructed for learners and audiences, including artwork descriptions? action
- Which entry fits science communication? action
AI
Explainable AI.
AI
AI.
- What is explainable AI, and what standards require explanations of automated decisions? provenance
- Which entry fits explainable artificial intelligence? action
Context History and misfiled aliases.
Context.
History
History.
History
History.
- How has the concept of explanation developed from Aristotle s four causes to modern philosophy? provenance
- Which entry fits four causes? action
Misfiled
Misfiled aliases.
Misfiled
Misfiled.
- What are tax returns and hearsay, and where should they be covered? provenance
- Which entry fits tax return? action
What the second pass must settle
- Should scientific explanation and explainable AI be separate primary entries?
- How should philosophical sources be linked?
- The registry entry has merged aliases naming tax returns, a person s records and hearsay, which appear misfiled and should be moved