Question

From Wikipedia: 'An explanandum is a sentence describing a phenomenon that is to be explained, and the explanans are the sentences adduced as explanations of that phenomenon. For example, one person may pose an explanandum by asking "Why is there smoke?", and another may provide an explanans by responding "Because there is a fire". In this example, "smoke" is the explanandum, and "fire" is the explanans.'

I recall somewhere in the Platonic dialogues that Socrates says that as a matter of principle an explanans must be of a higher order than what it seeks to explain. But I'm very hazy on the details. Does anyone recall the passage I might be referring to?

Answer 1

While the specific passage the student asked about is not clearly identified, the philosophical principle that an explanans should be of a higher order than the explanandum aligns with Socratic and Platonic thought, evident across various dialogues.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage where Socrates discusses the nature of explanation, suggesting that an explanans must be of a higher order than the explanandum, is not explicitly referenced in the student's question and might not exist as a direct quote.

However, the idea is consistent with Socratic and Platonic philosophy, where understanding comes from uncovering deeper truths that underpin observable phenomena.

This principle is reflected in various Platonic dialogues where Socrates seeks to uncover the essence of concepts, which are deemed to be of a higher order of knowledge than mere empirical observations.

In discussing hypotheses and their explanatory power, it is important to note that a robust hypothesis must accommodate all observed evidence.

For instance, attributing the disappearance of pumpkin bread to the dog rather than a roommate bears greater explanatory power if the clues suggest such a scenario.

Similarly, ancient Greek thinkers like Parmenides and Democritus attempted to explain observable changes as illusions, positing underlying, unchanging realities as the true explanations for the phenomena witnessed.

Philosophical analysis involves breaking apart complex ideas into simpler components to better comprehend them. This analytical process helps to discern higher-order truths that may serve as the explanans for observed phenomena, staying true to the Socratic method of reaching well-founded beliefs and explanations.