“An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.”
Image credits：Aronsyne,”Lewis, age 48″,CC BY-SA 4.0,C.S.-Lewis – C. S. Lewis – Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- November 29, 1898 – November 22, 1963
- Born in Ireland
- Writer, scholar
- Had a major influence on fantasy literature and religious thought through his many works, including the Chronicles of Narnia series and The Poetics of Christianity
Quote
“An explanation of cause is not a justification by reason.”
Explanation
In this quote, C. S. Lewis makes an important distinction between explaining why something happened and justifying that it happened with sound reasoning. An explanation of cause tells us the factors or events that led to an outcome—it answers the “how” or “why” something occurred. However, just because we understand the cause of an action or event does not mean we have provided a rational justification for it. Justification involves offering a moral or logical defense for why something was the right thing to do or why it can be considered acceptable. In other words, an explanation is about understanding what happened and why it happened, while justification is about defending the action as reasonable or morally acceptable. This distinction highlights that understanding the mechanics of a situation does not automatically make it justifiable.
Historically, Lewis often explored the limits of human reasoning and the complexities of moral choice in his works. For example, in The Problem of Pain, Lewis discusses how we can explain the causes of suffering (such as natural disasters or human cruelty), but explaining a cause does not justify or make sense of the suffering in a way that offers comfort or understanding. In many of his works, Lewis was concerned with how humans often use explanations as a way of justifying actions that may not actually be morally or ethically acceptable. Just because we can explain a situation does not mean we should necessarily accept it or that it is right.
In the modern context, this quote speaks to the rationalization of behaviors or decisions in both personal and societal contexts. For example, in discussions of political decisions, business practices, or social issues, people may explain the reasons behind their actions, but simply explaining a decision does not justify it as the right course of action. In our world of political rhetoric, corporate spin, or personal excuses, it’s important to recognize that an explanation does not inherently carry moral weight. Just because something is understandable or explained doesn’t mean it is justifiable. This reminder encourages deeper critical thinking, urging us to not only understand the causes behind actions or events but also to evaluate their moral and logical justification.
