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Abstracts:
What is an explanation, what is an automaton and what is a phenomenon? I will start with the last one: |
Let us imagine that we lived in that "ancient" Greece of which we can believe that there were humans, demigods and gods. Let's imagine that we were ordinary mortals - that's certainly the easiest thing to do. We stand in front of the temple, the priest lights a fire on his altar and murmurs some incantations. Then - as if guided by the hand of the gods - the temple door opens. Later, after he has finished the ceremony, the priest extinguishes the fire, murmurs a few more incantations and the temple door closes again - as if guided by the hand of the gods. We might find this as normal as the sunrise in the morning and the sunset in the evening. But only perhaps. We might also ask ourselves for an explanation. Why do the temple doors open and close when the priest wants them to? |
When I ask for an explanation, I create - precisely by doing so - a phenomenon. I call something a phenomenon that I want to have explained. Quasi-etymologically, the term "phenomenon" implies that it is about an appearance of something else, and thus that one would like to know what appears.
Now, how can the phenomenon with the temple doors be explained?
Give at least one explanation of the temple door! |
Pay attention to what kind of formulations can be considered as explanations at all. |
Examples:
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Of course, there are as many phenomena as there are explanations. Not only ancient Greeks ask for explanations. Nietze said, "Man can bear almost any what as long as he has a why." |
Name some more phenomena ! |
Nowadays, many people find it difficult to imagine phenomena because they have an explanation for almost everything. If it is also difficult for you, continue to imagine being an ancient Greek, they could still wonder and believe. |
Examples:
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Phenomenal things are phenomenal as long as I have not understood them or explained them. |
So much for phenomenon, but what is an explanation?.
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