When Mathematicians, Historians, and Scientists Say That They Have Explained Something, Are They Using the Word ‘Explain' in the Same Way?

When mathematicians, historians, and scientists say that they have explained something, are they using the word ‘explain ' in the same way?

Marcel Wallace
IB #001089
TOK #1(Final Draft)
Word Count: We all have ways of acquiring information about the complex world in which we live. Mathematicians, historians, and scientists each have their own respective procedure of determining truths and justifying their judgments. Each uses their own Area of Knowledge to present findings and explain occurrences. But, since they are coming from various Areas of Knowledge, are their methods of explanation different, even though we accept their work as truths all the same? Mathematicians, historians, and scientists explain things using varying types of evidence exclusive to their field, but there is still some overlapping between the methods of explanation.
Even though we see differences between the methods of explanation in the various Ways of Knowing, there often times that the process in each way of knowing begins with perception. Perception is the awareness of an entity by use of the senses. It combines different sensory stimuli over time into a single unified whole. The result is the awareness of things and ideas. Mathematicians, historians, and scientists acquire raw information about the world around us through perception. They can then take that information and try to understand it. All knowledge still though, is derived from this common root. Often times in these disciplines there is overlapping of fields: scientists use math to figure out a problem or predict results, and historians will sometimes use science to explain or prove their assumptions.
The word 'explanation ' is used in a wide variety of ways in the English language. We speak of explaining the meaning of a word, explaining the background to philosophical theories of explanation, explaining how to bake a pie, explaining why one made a certain decision, explaining irregular occurrences and so on. We can distinguish between two basic kinds of explanations, inductive and deductive. Induction is usually described as moving from the specific premise to the general conclusion, while deduction begins with the general premise and ends with the specific conclusion. Explanations based on experience or observations are best expressed inductively, while arguments based on laws, rules, or other widely accepted principles are best expressed deductively. For example, Carlos says: "I 've noticed previously that every time I kick a ball up, it comes back down, so I guess this next time when I kick it up, it will come back down, too". Tadahito says: "That is Newton 's Law. Everything that goes up must come down. And if you kick the ball up, it must come down". Carlos is using inductive reasoning, arguing from observation, while Tadahito is using deductive reasoning, arguing from the law of gravity. This theme is clearly evident in the ways of Knowing. Mathematicians and scientists have certain laws and rules they must abide by in their respective areas so deduction is more often their method of explanation. The historian however has more freedom to induct or deduct to explain historical events.
A mathematician is some one whose primary area of expertise is the study and research of the Area of Knowledge, mathematics. In addition, a mathematician contributes new knowledge to the field of mathematics, such theorems or postulates. Mathematics is a unique Area of Knowledge because it is closed system of knowledge with its own set of rules and regulations that must be followed. Like other scientists, mathematicians usually start with hunches and then conduct symbolic or computational tests, involving strictly numbers, to test them. Unlike in the sciences however, fundamental explanations in much of mathematics do not consist of performing experiments. Rather, mathematics is about problem solving, where truths are deduced from other known or accepted truths.
The term 'science ' refers to the an analytical and logical systems of acquiring knowledge or the organized body of knowledge humans have gained based on empiricism, experimentation, and methodological naturalism- assumption that perceivable events in nature are explained only by natural not super natural causes. A scientist is an expert, who uses the scientific method to explain phenomenon in the natural world. Scientists include theoreticians who never do experiments and experimentalists who do no theory, and a hybrid of the two who do both. It almost seems almost weekly that a scientist claims that he has isolated the gene for some particular disease or trait. Increasingly we are told that mental and emotional characteristics, as irritability, humility or arrogance can be attributed to our DNA. Scientists make these claims based on their own speculations and other scientists ' speculations.
History is a little different from science; most of our historical knowledge is gathered from 'authorities ' such as books, journals, logs, and other documents. However, there is also some corporeal evidence to back up the facts in history. For example, the proof of meetings of important historical figures, like Mussolini and Hitler can be photographed, as well as being documented. These photographs provide a more direct means of explaining, but propaganda can be used to edit history; it is not uncommon for pictures to be altered to change history.
Historians like Eric Foner have found their niche engaging in the process of historical analysis, which is a very difficult one. Foner 's work involves investigation and analysis of various ideas, facts, and myths to create coherent narratives that explain what happened and why or how it happened. Certainty is a phenomenon that is very difficult to attain, especially when dealing with the past. How do we know what happened before our time if we were not there to personally perceive what was happening? This is the challenge that all historians face. Being a historian is not unlike being a
The language mathematicians, historians, and scientists use in their never ending pursuit of knowledge influences greatly their perceptions and explanations of things and conclusions we draw from them. The seemingly different Areas of Knowledge actually use the word 'explain ' quite similarly, with the inductive and deductive processes they each go through. Works Cited

Historian." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 May 2006, 15:21 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 .

"Mathematician." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 17 May 2006, 18:02 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 .

"Science." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 17 May 2006, 18:02 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 .

Scientific Explanation. Stanford Univ. 24 May 2006

Warburton, Nigel. Philosophy: The Basics. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1997. 21-65

"Ways of Knowing." IB TOK. IBO. 24 May 2006

Cited: Historian." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 22 May 2006, 15:21 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 . "Mathematician." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 17 May 2006, 18:02 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 . "Science." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 17 May 2006, 18:02 UTC. Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. 26 May 2006 . Scientific Explanation. Stanford Univ. 24 May 2006 Warburton, Nigel. Philosophy: The Basics. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1997. 21-65 "Ways of Knowing." IB TOK. IBO. 24 May 2006