Explanation Quote by C. S. Lewis
“An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.”
About This Quote
Source Book: The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, 1942
Explains that describing why something happens is not the same as defending it with logic.
In simple terms: Cause ≠ justification.
Key Takeaway
Distinguish explanation from moral defense.
Themes
philosophy
ethics
logic
Mood
thoughtful
critical
Type
analytical
reflective
When to use this quote
- academic writing
- debates
- policy analysis
Key Concepts
causation
justification
reasoning
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you separate factual cause from moral judgment?
- When is a causal claim ethically problematic?
A Different Perspective
Explanations can be misused to excuse wrongdoing.
![“They [scientists of centuries past] call on God only from the lonely and precarious edge of incomprehension. Where they feel certain about their explanations, however, God gets hardly a mention.” quote by Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0b0/neil-degrasse-tyson-143_century_they-scientists-of-centuries-past-call-o_12921.jpg)
![“[Barack Obama] will spend long periods of time explaining to people why he won't use it. At the end of the explanation, nobody knows why he still won't use it because the explanation is no good. And I mean, honestly we have a president that in my opinion really doesn't know what he's doing.” quote by Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/eb3/donald-trump-18_barack_barack-obama-will-spend-long-periods-of_29283.jpg)
