It is important to be [[aware]] when an explanation is not a justification. A criminal profiler may offer an explanation of a suspect's [[behavior]] (e.g.; the [[person]] lost their job, the person got evicted, etc.). Such statements may help us [[understand]] why the person committed the [[crime]], however an uncritical [[listener]] may believe the speaker is trying to gain [[sympathy]] for the person and his or her actions. It does not follow that a person proposing an explanation has any sympathy for the [[views]] or [[actions]] being explained. This is an important distinction because we need to be able to understand and explain terrible [[events]] and [[behavior]] in attempting to discourage it. | It is important to be [[aware]] when an explanation is not a justification. A criminal profiler may offer an explanation of a suspect's [[behavior]] (e.g.; the [[person]] lost their job, the person got evicted, etc.). Such statements may help us [[understand]] why the person committed the [[crime]], however an uncritical [[listener]] may believe the speaker is trying to gain [[sympathy]] for the person and his or her actions. It does not follow that a person proposing an explanation has any sympathy for the [[views]] or [[actions]] being explained. This is an important distinction because we need to be able to understand and explain terrible [[events]] and [[behavior]] in attempting to discourage it. |