Explanatory Reason

An Explanatory Reason is a reason that explains past things.

Example(s):
- a Why and event occurs reason.
  - The reason why the car won't start is because the battery is dead.
  - The reason why you get sick is because you were exposed to a virus.
- a Why things are the way they are reason, such as:
  - The reason why the sky is blue is because of the way that sunlight interacts with the atmosphere.
- The reason why the economy is struggling is because of a number of factors, such as inflation and supply chain disruptions.
- …
Counter-Example(s):
- a Normative Reason.
See: Reasoning.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reason_%28argument%29#Normative_vs._explanatory_reasons
- Explanatory reasons are considerations which serve to explain why things have happened — they are reasons why events occur, or why states of affairs are the way they are. In other words, "reason" can also be a synonym for “cause”. For example, a reason why a car starts is that its ignition is turned. In the context of explaining the actions of beings who act for reasons (i.e., rational agents), these are called motivating reasons — e.g., the reason why Bill went to college was to learn; i.e., that he would learn was his motivating reason. At least where a rational agent is acting rationally, her motivating reasons are those considerations which she believes count in favor of her so acting.

(Kment, 2014) ⇒ Boris Kment. (2014). “Modality and Explanatory Reasoning." Oxford University Press. ISBN:0199604681