67. We Need Explanations

"An explanation is a statement about what is there, what it does, how, and why" - David Deutsch

"A good explanation is a hard-to-vary assertion about reality where, ideally, every detail plays a functional role, such that if the explanation were refuted its defenders would have nowhere to go." - David Deutsch

For us to improve as individuals we need explanations. This is a necessary but not sufficient condition for the growth of knowledge (check out the full Ted Talk or better yet read The Beginning of Infinity). But if we are going to get anywhere we first need an explanation and anyone who does not offer you one is not helping. An explanation gives you something to criticize. It is more important to have something to criticize than some meaningless information that is immune to it. It is more important to ask, "Does this have an explanation," than to ask, "Is this right?"

On a personal note, I had a breakthrough revelation the other day about my understanding of self-discipline. I know I am missing some knowledge that will improve my self-discipline. I have attempted to redefine it as the determination to self-integrate, which entails mutually aligning my actions, desires, and values. But this has not caused me to behave in the manner I want. Thinking about the process through which knowledge grows, through conjecture and criticism, this is my conjecture about the missing knowledge: Nothing is immune to criticism. Not even my perspective on what is fun or not and what is important and not. I can and should deliberately criticize my perceptions and decisions.