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Do good explanations have to be true? - Coggle Diagram
Do good explanations have to be true?
Good explanations
Understanding
Understanding refers to a feeling/grasp of a phenomena.
Understanding is very subjective, different people understand differently
An explanation is a description of a phenomena
The goal of an explanation is for someone to understand the phenomena
Naturally, a good explanation will be on that allows the person in question to understand the phenomena more effectively.
A “false/untrue” explanation can also produce the feeling of understanding, and at times can explain phenomena it better than a true but ineffective explanation
Thesis
For example, “x explains y” could be true, although the explican x itself is false.
A possible talking point is the distinction between the phenomena and the explicans
True explanations can include false explicantia, while still maintaining verity.
All good explanations are rooted in truth, despite occasionally using false explicans to describe phenomena. False explicans are used to ensure easier understanding for the reader.
A good explanation that is not necessarily true can create the same feeling of understanding
Truth
Widely accepted, has been through testing
When something is true, will generally be seen as more credible
Truth differs between subjects; some truth has greater subjective value than others.
Corresponds to real life (correspondence, coherence)
AOKs
Mathematics
Mathematics as a subject/area of knowledge is one rooted on logic and knowledge that has already been proven as being mathematically true.
Much of higher level mathematics is based around proof. Proof only works when each step/axiom utilized is completely correct, otherwise the proof falls apart.
Human Science
Many times models are used to represent and rationalize thinking
Purpose is for ease of understanding, for teaching, etc...
Despite explaining concepts well, these models/explanations are usually not accurate representations of real life.