Explanation, Understanding, and Subjectivity Essay -- Philosophy Philo

business relationship, Understanding, and SubjectivityABSTRACT Many theorists of explanation from Hempel beforehand have worked with the explicit or implicit assumption that considerations of the subjective gumption of understanding should be kept out of the formulation of a seemly theory of explanation. They claim that genuine understanding of an gist comes only from creation in an appropriate cognitive relation to the true explanation of that event. I argue that considerations of the subjective sense of understanding cannot be completely take away from the process of formulating and justifying an acceptable theory of explanation. Although understanding is neither a needed nor sufficient condition for an explanation, understanding is necessary as an initial eliminate to the nature of explanation. The widespread method of providing counterexamples for criticizing theories of explanation presupposes that there is a nonsubjective method of identifying at least nearly clear ca ses of explanation and some clear cases of non-explanations. I argue that the only plausible method to fulfill this role relies essentially on the subjective sense of understanding. Objective substantiation of judgments about explanatoriness comes only through a complex process of well-disposed correction of our initial intuitive judgments regarding explanation. It is clear that understanding and explanation are related. It is unclear exactly how they are related. We speak both of explaining-why and understanding-why some event occurred. Explanations typically establish understanding in those who consider them, and the sense of increase understanding typically comes from consideration of an explanation. Consideration of an explanation can, however, fail to produce in someone an increased level o... ...3-256. Reprinted in Explanation, ed. David Hillel-Ruben, 160-181. New York and Oxford Oxford University Press, 1993.1989. Explanation and Metaphysical Controversy. In scientific Explanation, ed. Philip Kitcher and Wesley C. Salmon, 220-252. Minneapolis University of Minnesota Press.Salmon, Wesley C. 1970. Statistical Explanation. In The record and Function of Scientific Theories, ed. Robert G. Colondy, 173-231. Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Press. Reprinted in Salmon et al. (1971).Salmon, Wesley C. 1984. Scientific Explanation and the causal Structure of the World. Princeton Princeton University Press.Salmon, Wesley C., with Richard C. Jeffrey and James G. Greeno. 1971. Statistical Explanation and Statistical Relevance. Pittsburgh University of Pittsburgh Press.van Fraassen, Bas. 1980. The Scientific Image. Oxford Clarendon Press.