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I am reading Aristotle. He seems to me to believe that knowledge is knowledge of explanations (causes - aitiai). But what ground is there for this belief? I cannot formulate a reason for this. I would highly appreciate it if you could please help me with this.

Thanks in advance!

Frank Booth
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    See [Aristotle: Demonstration](https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/aristotle-logic/#DemDemSci): "The subject of the *Posterior Analytics* is epistêmê. This is one of several Greek words that can reasonably be translated “knowledge”. There is a long tradition of translating epistêmê in this technical sense as *science*. We have scientific knowledge, according to Aristotle, when we know: 'the cause why the thing is, that it is the cause of this, and that this cannot be otherwise'. (*Posterior Analytics* I.2)" – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Jun 20 '23 at 13:57
  • Thus, in a nutshell, "proper" knowledge (scientific knowledge, episteme) is knowledge of *causes*: the reason why something is that way and not other. We have other kind of knowledge: knowledge of empirical, historical facts, practical knowledge, etc. – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Jun 20 '23 at 13:58
  • I see. Thank you. So I gather then that because scientific knowledge is knowledge of changeless things, scientific knowledge is knowledge of explanations? – Frank Booth Jun 20 '23 at 14:10
  • but the links you have provided does not answer my questions – Frank Booth Jun 20 '23 at 14:12
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    More or less... following Socrates (knowledge is mastering the proper definition) and Plato (knowledge is knowing the essence) for A "proper" knowledge is knowing the causes that can provide us the correct explanation and understanding. – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Jun 20 '23 at 14:13
  • Still, it does not answer my question. We do not know what Socrates really believed. Anyway, I am asking why proper knowledge is knowing the causes. You seem to be repeating my question in an indicative sentence – Frank Booth Jun 20 '23 at 14:14
  • See also the post [Four Causes in Aristotle](https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/questions/76919/understanding-the-four-causes-of-aristotle) – Mauro ALLEGRANZA Jun 20 '23 at 14:46
  • I cannot formulate a reason for this. - you cannot because you have no question. aiteo - to aks, ask to self first. – άνθρωπος Jun 21 '23 at 09:19
  • What do you mean I don't have a question? Maybe I am missing some guidelines? Please let me know – Frank Booth Jun 21 '23 at 15:31
  • The foundation of knowledge is understanding, something that *under* to thing - question. Asking a question is precedes to knowing, asking ability, question formulation - the cause of knowledge. – άνθρωπος Jun 22 '23 at 11:15
  • when you answer wright @and my nick, i ll got a notice that you had answered – άνθρωπος Jun 22 '23 at 11:30

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