Final answer:
Winston understands how the oppressive system in '1984' works but not why it exists, creating a disconnect between knowledge and understanding of the regime's ultimate rationale for power.
Step-by-step explanation:
In George Orwell's 1984, when Winston says, "I understand HOW. I do not understand WHY.", he is expressing his grasp of the mechanics behind the totalitarian regime's control and manipulation tactics, but he struggles to comprehend the fundamental rationale for this system of oppression. The statement reflects the disturbing disconnect between the exercise of power and the obscured purposes driving such a dystopian society. Winston understands the practical execution of control, like surveillance, censorship, and propaganda, but the underlying purpose or justification of such control is elusive to him. This lack of understanding regarding the 'why' relates to the torment of not fully grasping the human or philosophical reasoning for the Party's need for absolute power.