Explanation

An explanation is some type of answer to the question `Why did happen?'. It can contain any or all of the following characteristics:

``What precise sequence of events and interactions caused to happen in this situation?'' We argue that we can reduce the problem to its constituent interactions, all of which we can explain (often in a precise, quantitative fashion). Thus we have explained the connection between our initial state and the event in a causal fashion. This sort of explanation can be used either as pre- or post-explanation of the event.

``What were the fundamental details of the initial state which caused ?'' This allows us to generalise and determine some characteristics of the class of initial states which bring about , as compared with the space as a whole. If we can't generalise, we may reach the conclusion that we were dealing with a special case.

``Assuming this situation isn't special in any way, why did , rather than happen?'' This is an elaboration of the previous point. Presumably we can imagine a number of different outcomes to which the system could progress (If we're so sure it'll reach , why aren't we researching something more interesting). Therefore we would like to have some form of explanation for the mapping between different classes of initial state, and the different outcomes