Explanatory cause. The Illusion of Explanatory Depth 2022-10-28

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An explanatory cause is a type of cause that helps to explain why something happened or why a particular phenomenon exists. It is a cause that provides a deeper understanding of the underlying mechanisms or processes that led to the effect in question. Explanatory causes often go beyond simply identifying the proximate cause, which is the immediate cause of an event or phenomenon, and delve into the underlying causes that may have contributed to the occurrence of the effect.

For example, consider a case where a person becomes ill with a particular illness. The proximate cause of the illness might be a particular virus or bacteria that the person was exposed to. However, an explanatory cause would consider the factors that may have contributed to the person's susceptibility to the illness, such as their overall health, diet, and lifestyle. These underlying causes may provide a more complete understanding of why the person became ill and may suggest ways to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

Explanatory causes are important in many fields, including science, medicine, and social science, as they allow us to better understand the underlying causes of events and phenomena and to develop more effective interventions and solutions. In scientific research, explanatory causes are often pursued through the use of experiments, observations, and other methods that help to identify and control for potential confounding variables and to test hypotheses about the causes of events or phenomena.

In addition to providing a deeper understanding of the underlying causes of events and phenomena, explanatory causes can also have practical applications. For example, identifying the explanatory causes of a particular illness can help to inform the development of more effective treatments and preventative measures. Similarly, understanding the explanatory causes of social problems, such as poverty or crime, can help to inform the development of policies and programs that address these issues.

In summary, explanatory causes are an important aspect of understanding the world around us. By identifying and understanding the underlying causes of events and phenomena, we can gain a deeper understanding of the world and develop more effective interventions and solutions to the problems we face.

Explanatory & Response Variables: Definition & Examples

explanatory cause

This is the variable that changes as a result of the fertilizer being applied to it. Secondly, and more importantly, Empedocles overlooks the fact that it takes a human being to generate a human being. When people like Paul start to think, ''Nothing I do matters,'' it can become a self-fulfilling prophecy of learned helplessness. Explanatory Style Every person's life is a collection of experiences, and those experiences are formed in the mind by the way in which they share those experiences. What is the difference between cause and explanation? They form and decide the characteristics of every living creature and the genes that exist today are there because they have been successfully reproduced in the past.

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Explanatory Causes in Aristotle’s Constitutional Theory

explanatory cause

Aristotle frames his answer in terms of the human form, maintaining that a human form is fully realized at the end of generation. A pessimist might, for example, think that "Everywhere there is misery" and an optimist think that, "I have had dealings mostly with honest people". Pre-Writing Steps Before getting into the writing process of an explanatory paper, you must not forget to do proper research and data collection. To understand why let us focus on the study of nature. Here Aristotle establishes that explaining nature requires final causality by discussing a difficulty that may be advanced by an opponent who denies that there are final causes in nature. First of all, just like with most types of essays, get the reader interested in the topic by presenting a hook statement. But of course, natural language uses causation in a broader, explanatory sense, too.

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Explanatory Style Theory & Examples

explanatory cause

However, what helps us make sense of that outcome and continue to try again is our explanatory style. Explanatory Style and Stress Level It's important to understand that explanatory style directly affects a person's stress level especially if a person has a pessimistic explanatory style. Pessimists tend to internalize negative events and externalize positive events. Consider, in particular, the case of a lunar eclipse. After one week she measures the average plant growth for each group.

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Do you agree that every event has an explanatory cause?

explanatory cause

In other words, there is more to the formation of the teeth than these material processes, but this formation does not occur unless the relevant material processes take place. This will help paint a clear picture for the reader to follow. People who experience learned helplessness believe that individual action does not matter in the face of negative life events. I agree to a certain extent. Another aspect is that greed can cause the corruption of a government. This account is general in the sense that it applies to everything that requires an explanation, including artistic production and human action. Lastly, present a concluding statement that summarizes the significance of the claim in regards to the thesis statement.


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philosophy of science

explanatory cause

For the sake of clarity music is often defined as the organisation of sounds and silences into interesting and meaningful patterns. As you can see, this bias unnecessarily causes division and a lack of consensus in society. The following examples show different scenarios involving explanatory and response variables. . Each Aristotelian science consists in the causal investigation of a specific department of reality.

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Explanatory Definition & Meaning

explanatory cause

Causal research can be conducted in order to assess impacts of specific changes on existing norms, various processes etc. Explanatory Essay Introduction The explanatory essay introduction is made up of three main components: a hook, background information and a thesis statement. Essays in Honor of Allan Gotthelf, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 5—29. Some have objected that Aristotle explains natural process on the basis of an inappropriately psychological teleological model; that is to say, a teleological model that involves a purposive agent who is somehow sensitive to the end. This theory has in fact been developed primarily but not exclusively for the study of nature.

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The Illusion of Explanatory Depth

explanatory cause

People who tend to view setbacks as personal, permanent, and pervasive display what is called a pessimistic explanatory style. Pessimists tend to believe that negative life events have a pervasive effect on other life events. The bronze is melted and poured in order to acquire a new shape, the shape of the statue. In the classroom Sandra has a final exam for her statistics class in a month. However, based on the explanatory essay format, most essays tend to be a page or two in length, so the overall essay will be around 5 paragraphs long.


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Causal Research (Explanatory research)

explanatory cause

Next time you learn about something new, ask yourself to explain the concept out loud to yourself or to someone else before you develop a strong opinion on it. The DNA that determines the person that we grow into is created from half of each of our parents DNA. A mold is prepared for producing the statue. Causal evidence has three important components: 1. In other words, the student of nature is expected to provide an explanation of why certain animals typically have a certain dental arrangement.

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How to Write an Explanatory Essay: Topics, Outline, Example

explanatory cause

But this does not explain the regularity of the connection. In the Physics, Aristotle builds on his general account of the four causes in order to provide the student of nature with the explanatory resources indispensable for a successful investigation of the natural world. But this equation can be a first approximation at best. This view does not necessarily have to be one that the writer agrees with, but it must have some research and logic to make it feasible. Imagine an alien comes to Earth and demands that you explain the concept of houses. Since these Premium World War II Bribery Political corruption Do You Agree With The 15th Amendment or to have other opportunities. In addition, any theoretical investigation that there might be besides natural science will employ the doctrine of the four causes.

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Aristotle on Causality (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)

explanatory cause

This means gender identity and risk perception are not independent of each other. This is because of the illusion of explanatory depth: having to explain your knowledge brings you to the realization that you actually know much less than you thought you did. It is possible to build on both examples to conclude that Aristotle is concerned not only with finding the relevant kinds of causes but also with giving the most accurate description of those causes. Concerning your example from physics: I do not consider gravity the explanation of the bending of light. We often give reasons we support or condemn a cause, but rarely explain the cause in detail. Why Or Why Not? The problem that here concerns Aristotle is presented in the following way: since both the final and the efficient cause are involved in the explanation of natural generation, we have to establish what is first and what is second PA 639 b 12—13. At the end of the week he measures the max vertical jump of each player to see if there are significant differences between the groups.


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